An interdisciplinary team led by anthropologist Gerhard Weber from the University of Vienna, together with experts from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, has concluded, after analyzing a skull discovered in 1929 in the ruins of the Octagon Tomb of Ephesus in Turkey, that the remains belong to a boy aged between 11 and 14 with developmental disorders, and not to Arsinoe IV, Cleopatra’s sister, as had been previously suggested.
The sarcophagus was initially discovered on one of the most prominent streets of Ephesus, Curetes Street, during excavations led by archaeologist Josef Keil. Although the sarcophagus contained no valuable objects, it did hold a complete skeleton, of which only the skull was transported for initial analysis.
Keil considered that it belonged to a young woman of high aristocracy, based on a yellowed note accompanying the remains, which referred to a Heroon or heroic tomb.

In 1990, the theory emerged that the skull might belong to Arsinoe IV, due to the architectural similarity of the Octagon with the Lighthouse of Alexandria, a symbol of Ptolemaic power, and the historical fact that Arsinoe was executed in Ephesus in 41 BC.
This narrative gained popularity and became the subject of numerous studies and academic debates, keeping alive the possibility that Cleopatra’s sister’s remains rested in this lavish tomb.
With advances in anthropology and scientific archaeology, the skull underwent high-precision micro-computed tomography to create a digital replica with a resolution of 80 micrometers. From tiny samples taken from the skull and inner ear, scientists determined that the remains dated between 36 and 205 BC, a timeline consistent with Arsinoe’s era. However, genetic tests revealed a surprising fact: the remains belonged to a male, definitively dismissing the initial theory.

Morphological analysis indicated that the boy had severe deformities, including a prematurely fused cranial suture and an underdeveloped upper jaw. These anomalies would have caused difficulties in chewing, as confirmed by uneven wear on his teeth. Although the exact cause of his disorders is unknown, researchers suggest possible nutritional deficiencies, such as a lack of vitamin D, or genetic conditions like Treacher Collins syndrome.
The confirmation that the remains do not belong to Arsinoe IV closes a chapter of speculation but opens another in archaeological research. Why was a building with clear Egyptian influences constructed for a child with such conditions? What seems certain is that the tomb was designed for someone of great social significance, raising new questions about his identity and the monument’s purpose.
Now, the search for the true remains of Arsinoe IV can continue without the shadow of this historical confusion. The research, published in Scientific Reports, marks a milestone in the use of scientific methods in archaeology, highlighting interdisciplinary collaboration to answer fundamental questions about our past.
SOURCES
Weber, G.W., Šimková, P.G., Fernandes, D. et al. The cranium from the Octagon in Ephesos. Sci Rep 15, 943 (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83870-x
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