She was the daughter and is the known child of the King of the Alans, Ashkatar[4] who is also known as Ashkhadar[5][6] by an unnamed wife.

The name Ashkhen is a female Armenian name which derives from the word akhsen, ‘grey’, or Zend akhsaena which means ‘black’ or ‘bluish-black’.

Tiridates III served as a Roman client king of Armenia from 287 to 330, and married Ashkhen in 297.

According to legend, after Tiridates had killed a group of Christians, the Hripsimeyan nuns,[7][8] he lost his sanity.

Ashkhen, Tiridates III, and Khosrovidukht are Saints in the Armenian Apostolic Church and their feast day is on the Saturday after the fifth Sunday after Pentecost.