He was of Jewish, Nabataean, Edomite, Greek, Armenian, Medes and Persian origins.
His paternal grandparents were King Tigranes VI of Armenia and his wife Opgalli.
His maternal grandparents were King Antiochus IV of Commagene and Queen Julia Iotapa.
Cetis was a small region in Cilicia that was previously ruled by his Cappadocian royal ancestors and Antiochus IV.
There are three princes by the name Phasael in the Herodian dynasty, all three mentioned by Josephus in "War" (BJ) and "Antiquities" (AJ):[1]