Weber Gerhard W, Šimková Petra G, Fernandes Daniel M, Cheronet Olivia, Úry Előd, Wilfing Harald, Matiasek Katarina, Llano-Lizcano Alejandro, Gelabert Pere, Trinks Immo, Douka Katerina, Ladstätter Sabine, Higham Tom, Steskal Martin, Pinhasi Ron
Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, A-1030, Vienna, Austria.
Human Evolution and Archaeological Science (HEAS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 10;15(1):943. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-83870-x.
During excavations in 1929, a well-preserved skeleton was discovered in a sarcophagus in the Octagon at Ephesos (Turkey). For the following century, archaeologists have speculated about the identity of this obviously notable person. Repeated claim is that the remains could represent Arsinoë IV, daughter of Ptolemy XII, and younger (half-)sister of Cleopatra VII. To address these questions we undertook state-of-the-art morphological, genetic and dating analyses of the cranium and further analyses of bone samples from a femur and a rib of the skeleton found in the same tomb. We confirm based on genetic analyses from the cranium and the femur that they derive from the same person. C-dating of the cranium provides a most likely time range between 205-36 BC. The connection with Arsinoë IV can be excluded because we confirmed that the individual is a male. The cranium represents an 11-14-year-old boy who suffered from significant developmental disturbances. Genetics suggest an ancestry from the Italian peninsula or Sardinia. The fate of the body of Arsinoë IV, who reportedly was killed in 41 BC in Ephesos, remains open. In contrast, investigations regarding the fate and social background of the boy from the Octagon can now proceed free of speculation.
1929年发掘期间，在以弗所（土耳其）八角形建筑的石棺中发现了一具保存完好的骨架。在接下来的一个世纪里，考古学家们一直在猜测这个显然很有名的人的身份。人们反复声称这些遗骸可能是托勒密十二世的女儿、克利奥帕特拉七世的妹妹（同父异母）阿尔西诺伊四世。为了解决这些问题，我们对头骨进行了最先进的形态学、遗传学和年代测定分析，并对在同一墓穴中发现的骨架的一根股骨和一根肋骨的骨样本进行了进一步分析。基于对头骨和股骨的基因分析，我们确认它们来自同一个人。对头骨的碳定年提供了一个最有可能在公元前205年至36年之间的时间范围。与阿尔西诺伊四世的联系可以排除，因为我们确认该个体是男性。头骨代表了一个患有严重发育障碍的11至14岁男孩。遗传学表明其祖籍来自意大利半岛或撒丁岛。据报道，阿尔西诺伊四世于公元前41年在以弗所被杀，她的遗体命运仍然未知。相比之下，现在可以对来自八角形建筑的男孩的命运和社会背景进行调查，而无需猜测。
