The cranium from the Octagon in Ephesos

Area of Science:

• Bioarchaeology
• Ancient Genetics
• Radiocarbon Dating

Background:

• A well-preserved skeleton was discovered in Ephesos in 1929, sparking speculation about its identity, with a prominent theory suggesting it belonged to Arsinoë IV.
• Arsinoë IV, daughter of Ptolemy XII and sister of Cleopatra VII, was reportedly killed in Ephesos in 41 BC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the identity and origin of the skeleton found in the Octagon at Ephesos.
• To resolve the long-standing archaeological debate regarding the skeleton's potential connection to Arsinoë IV.

Main Methods:

• State-of-the-art morphological, genetic, and radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dating analyses were performed on the cranium and bone samples (femur, rib).
• Genetic analyses confirmed the cranium and femur belonged to the same individual.
• ¹⁴C dating provided a date range for the cranium.

Main Results:

• Genetic analyses confirmed the cranium and femur belong to the same individual.
• ¹⁴C dating of the cranium yielded a date range of 205–36 BC.
• The individual was identified as a male, excluding the possibility of it being Arsinoë IV.
• The boy was 11–14 years old and exhibited significant developmental disturbances.
• Genetic ancestry analysis suggested origins from the Italian peninsula or Sardinia.

Conclusions:

• The skeleton is definitively not Arsinoë IV, but rather a young boy of likely Italian or Sardinian descent who lived between 205–36 BC.
• The findings allow for new avenues of research into the boy's life, social background, and fate.
• The actual burial place and fate of Arsinoë IV in Ephesos remain undetermined.