He was the son and namesake of the Roman Client Ruler and High Priest of Comana, Cappadocia, Archelaus I by an unnamed Greek woman.
[2] He also had an unnamed sister and his paternal uncle was the Pontic soldier Diogenes, who served in the army of King Mithridates VI of Pontus.
[3][4] His paternal grandfather also called Archelaus, the Pontic General who participated in the Mithridatic Wars.
[1] In 47 BC the Roman Dictator Gaius Julius Caesar after the conclusion of his military victory against the Triumvir Pompey, deprived and deposed Archelaus II of his office of high priest and rule over Comana.
[7] Pompey was their family patron [8] and it was he who appointed his father as High Priest Ruler of the temple state of Comana.