[3] Born and raised in the Kingdom of Pontos, her parents gave her a traditional ancient Greek name.
[citation needed] Athenais married the Cappadocian Prince and later King Ariobarzanes II Philopator,[4] who was of Persian and Greek descent.
[citation needed] After the death of her husband, her first son succeeded his father as King and she became a widow who never married again.
[6] During the rule of Ariobarzanes III, Roman Governor of Cilicia Marcus Tullius Cicero warned the King that Athenais could be a potential enemy to him.
They were ministers and favorites of her first son, and they were, through Athenais’ jealousy, driven out from the Cappadocian Royal Court.