1.
King
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King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen regnant, in the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the title may refer to tribal kingship. Germanic kingship is cognate with Indo-European traditions of tribal rulership In the context of classical antiquity, king may translate Latin rex or either Greek archon or basileus. In classical European feudalism, the title of king as the ruler of a kingdom is understood as the highest rank in the order, potentially subject. In a modern context, the title may refer to the ruler of one of a number of modern monarchies. The title of king is used alongside other titles for monarchs, in the West prince, emperor, archduke, duke or grand duke, in the Middle East sultan or emir, etc. Kings, like other royalty, tend to wear purple because purple was a color to wear in the past. The English term king is derived from the Anglo-Saxon cyning, which in turn is derived from the Common Germanic *kuningaz, the Common Germanic term was borrowed into Estonian and Finnish at an early time, surviving in these languages as kuningas. The English term king translates, and is considered equivalent to, Latin rēx, the Germanic term is notably different from the word for king in other Indo-European languages. It is a derivation from the term *kunjom kin by the -inga- suffix, the literal meaning is that of a scion of the kin, or perhaps son or descendant of one of noble birth. English queen translates Latin regina, it is from Old English cwen queen, noble woman, the Germanic term for wife appears to have been specialized to wife of a king, in Old Norse, the cognate kvan still mostly refers to a wife generally. Scandinavian drottning, dronning is a derivation from *druhtinaz lord. The English word is of Germanic origin, and historically refers to Germanic kingship, the Early Middle Ages begin with a fragmentation of the former Western Roman Empire into barbarian kingdoms. The core of European feudal manorialism in the High Middle Ages were the territories of the kingdom of France, the Holy Roman Empire, in southern Europe, the kingdom of Sicily was established following the Norman conquest of southern Italy. The Kingdom of Sardinia was claimed as a title held by the Crown of Aragon in 1324. In the Balkans, the Kingdom of Serbia was established in 1217, in eastern-central Europe, the Kingdom of Hungary was established in AD1000 following the Christianisation of the Magyars. The kingdoms of Poland and Bohemia were established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1025 and 1198, in Eastern Europe, the Kievan Rus consolidated into the Grand Duchy of Moscow, which did not technically claim the status of kingdom until the early modern Tsardom of Russia. In northern Europe, the kingdoms of the Viking Age by the 11th century expanded into the North Sea Empire under Cnut the Great, king of Denmark, England
King
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The nine European Monarchs who attended the funeral of King Edward VII of Britain, photographed at Windsor Castle on 20 May 1910. Standing, from left to right: King Haakon VII of Norway, Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria, King Manuel II of Portugal, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, King George I of Greece and King Albert I of Belgium. Seated, from left to right: King Alfonso XIII of Spain, King George V of Britain and King Frederick VIII of Denmark.
King
King
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Ramesses II, the third Pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt.
2.
Greek language
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Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages, native to Greece and other parts of the Eastern Mediterranean. It has the longest documented history of any living language, spanning 34 centuries of written records and its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the major part of its history, other systems, such as Linear B and the Cypriot syllabary, were used previously. The alphabet arose from the Phoenician script and was in turn the basis of the Latin, Cyrillic, Armenian, Coptic, Gothic and many other writing systems. Together with the Latin texts and traditions of the Roman world, during antiquity, Greek was a widely spoken lingua franca in the Mediterranean world and many places beyond. It would eventually become the official parlance of the Byzantine Empire, the language is spoken by at least 13.2 million people today in Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Albania, Turkey, and the Greek diaspora. Greek roots are used to coin new words for other languages, Greek. Greek has been spoken in the Balkan peninsula since around the 3rd millennium BC, the earliest written evidence is a Linear B clay tablet found in Messenia that dates to between 1450 and 1350 BC, making Greek the worlds oldest recorded living language. Among the Indo-European languages, its date of earliest written attestation is matched only by the now extinct Anatolian languages, the Greek language is conventionally divided into the following periods, Proto-Greek, the unrecorded but assumed last ancestor of all known varieties of Greek. The unity of Proto-Greek would have ended as Hellenic migrants entered the Greek peninsula sometime in the Neolithic era or the Bronze Age, Mycenaean Greek, the language of the Mycenaean civilisation. It is recorded in the Linear B script on tablets dating from the 15th century BC onwards, Ancient Greek, in its various dialects, the language of the Archaic and Classical periods of the ancient Greek civilisation. It was widely known throughout the Roman Empire, after the Roman conquest of Greece, an unofficial bilingualism of Greek and Latin was established in the city of Rome and Koine Greek became a first or second language in the Roman Empire. The origin of Christianity can also be traced through Koine Greek, Medieval Greek, also known as Byzantine Greek, the continuation of Koine Greek in Byzantine Greece, up to the demise of the Byzantine Empire in the 15th century. Much of the written Greek that was used as the language of the Byzantine Empire was an eclectic middle-ground variety based on the tradition of written Koine. Modern Greek, Stemming from Medieval Greek, Modern Greek usages can be traced in the Byzantine period and it is the language used by the modern Greeks, and, apart from Standard Modern Greek, there are several dialects of it. In the modern era, the Greek language entered a state of diglossia, the historical unity and continuing identity between the various stages of the Greek language is often emphasised. Greek speakers today still tend to regard literary works of ancient Greek as part of their own rather than a foreign language and it is also often stated that the historical changes have been relatively slight compared with some other languages. According to one estimation, Homeric Greek is probably closer to demotic than 12-century Middle English is to modern spoken English, Greek is spoken by about 13 million people, mainly in Greece, Albania and Cyprus, but also worldwide by the large Greek diaspora. Greek is the language of Greece, where it is spoken by almost the entire population
Greek language
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Idealized portrayal of Homer
Greek language
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regions where Greek is the official language
Greek language
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Greek language road sign, A27 Motorway, Greece
3.
Galatia
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Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey. Galatia was named for the immigrant Gauls from Thrace, who settled here and became its ruling caste in the 3rd century BC and it has been called the Gallia of the East, Roman writers calling its inhabitants Galli. Galatia was bounded on the north by Bithynia and Paphlagonia, on the east by Pontus and Cappadocia, on the south by Cilicia and Lycaonia, the Galatians originated as a part of the great Celtic migration, which invaded Macedon, led by Brennus. The original Celts who settled in Galatia came through Thrace under the leadership of Leotarios and Leonnorios c and these Celts consisted of three tribes, the Tectosages, the Trocmii, and the Tolistobogii. Brennus invaded Greece in 281 BC with a war band. At the same time, another Gaulish group of men, women and this had split off from Brennus people in 279 BC, and had migrated into Thrace under its leaders Leonnorius and Lutarius. The invaders came at the invitation of Nicomedes I of Bithynia, three tribes crossed over from Thrace to Asia Minor. They numbered about 10,000 fighting men and about the number of women and children. They were eventually defeated by the Seleucid king Antiochus I, in a battle where the Seleucid war elephants shocked the Celts, while the momentum of the invasion was broken, the Galatians were by no means exterminated. Instead, the led to the establishment of a long-lived Celtic territory in central Anatolia, which included the eastern part of ancient Phrygia. There they ultimately settled, and strengthened by fresh accessions of the clan from Europe, they overran Bithynia. The Gauls invaded eastern Phrygia on at least one occasion and it is likely it was a sacred oak grove, since the name means sanctuary of the oaks. These Celtic warriors were respected by Greeks and Romans and they were often hired as mercenary soldiers, sometimes fighting on both sides in the great battles of the times. For years, the chieftains and their war bands ravaged the western half of Asia Minor, as allies of one or other of the warring princes, without any serious check. This ended when they sided with the renegade Seleucid prince Antiochus Hierax ruling in Asia Minor, who tried to defeat Attalus, the theme of the Dying Gaul remained a favorite in Hellenistic art for a generation. Their right to the district was formally recognized, each of the twelve tetrarchs had under him a judge and a general. A council of the nation consisting of the tetrarchs and three hundred senators was periodically held at Drynemeton, the king of Attalid Pergamon hired Galatians in the increasingly devastating wars of Asia Minor. One of the tribes in his service, the Aigosages, refused to obey after an eclipse on 1 September 218 BC
Galatia
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Original location of the Tectosages in Gaul.
Galatia
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Location of Galatia in Anatolia
Galatia
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A Galatian's head as depicted on a gold Thracian objet d'art, 3rd century BC. Istanbul Archaeological Museum.
Galatia
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Galatian bronze horse bit, 3rd century BC, Hidirsihlar tumulus, Bolu. Istanbul Archaeological Museum.
4.
Attalus I
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Attalus I, surnamed Soter ruled Pergamon, an Ionian Greek polis, first as dynast, later as king, from 241 BC to 197 BC. He was the cousin and the adoptive son of Eumenes I, whom he succeeded. He was the son of Attalus and his wife Antiochis and this victory, celebrated by the triumphal monument at Pergamon and the liberation from the Gallic terror which it represented, earned for Attalus the name of Soter, and the title of king. A courageous and capable general and loyal ally of Rome, he played a significant role in the first and second Macedonian Wars, Attalus was a protector of the Greek cities of Anatolia and viewed himself as the champion of Greeks against barbarians. During his reign he established Pergamon as a power in the Greek East. He died in 197 BC, shortly before the end of the war, at the age of 72. He and his wife were admired for their rearing of their four sons and he was succeeded as king by his son Eumenes II. Little is known about Attalus early life and he was born a Greek, the son of Attalus, and Antiochis. Attalus was a child when his father died, sometime before 241 BC, after which he was adopted by Eumenes I. Attalus mother, Antiochis, was related to the Seleucid royal family with her marriage to Attalus father likely arranged by Philetaerus to solidify his power. This would be consistent with the conjecture that Attalus father had been Philetaerus heir designate, according to the 2nd century AD Greek writer Pausanias, the greatest of his achievements was the defeat of the Gauls. Since the time of Philetaerus, the first Attalid ruler, the Galatians had posed a problem for Pergamon, indeed for all of Asia Minor, Eumenes I had, along with other rulers, dealt with the Galatians by paying these tributes. Attalus however refused to pay them, being the first such ruler to do so, as a consequence, the Galatians set out to attack Pergamon. The victory brought Attalus legendary fame, for right soon the son of Cronos Shall raise a helper, the dear son of a bull reared by Zeus Who on all the Gauls shall bring a day of destruction. Pausanias adds that by son of a bull the oracle meant Attalus, king of Pergamon, on the acropolis of Pergamon was erected a triumphal monument, which included the famous sculpture the Dying Gaul, commemorating this battle. Attalus defeated the Gauls and Antiochus at the battle of Aphrodisium, as a result of these victories, Attalus gained control over all of Seleucid Asia Minor north of the Taurus Mountains. Achaeus, who had accompanied Seleucus III, assumed control of the army and he was offered and refused the kingship in favor of Seleucus IIIs younger brother Antiochus III the Great, who then made Achaeus governor of Seleucid Asia Minor north of the Taurus. Within two years Achaeus had recovered all the lost Seleucid territories, shut up Attalus within the walls of Pergamon, and assumed the title of king
Attalus I
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A Hellenistic portrait bust of Attalus I king of Pergamon
Attalus I
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Coin struck during the reign of Attalus I, depicting Attalus' great uncle, Philetaerus. Reverse shows Greek inscription ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ, "(coin) of Philetaerus", and Athena.
Attalus I
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The Dying Gaul representing the defeat of the Galatians by Attalus
Attalus I
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Mediterranean at 218 BC
5.
Pergamum
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Pergamon /ˈpɜːrɡəmən/ or /ˈpɜːrɡəmɒn/ or Pergamum /ˈpɜːrɡəməm/ was a rich and powerful ancient Greek city in Aeolis. It is located 26 kilometres from the coastline of the Aegean Sea on a promontory on the north side of the river Caicus. Many remains of its monuments can still be seen and especially the outstanding masterpiece of the Pergamon Altar. It became the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon during the Hellenistic period under the Attalid dynasty in 281–133 BC, Pergamon is cited in the Book of Revelation as one of the seven churches of Asia. Xenophon provides the earliest surviving mention of Pergamon. Captured by Xenophon in 399 BC and immediately recaptured by the Persians, in 261 BC he bequeathed his possessions to his nephew Eumenes I, who increased them greatly, leaving as heir his cousin Attalus I. The Attalids became some of the most loyal supporters of Rome in the Hellenistic world, for their support against the Seleucids, the Attalids were rewarded with all the former Seleucid domains in Asia Minor. As a consequence of its rise to power, the city expanded greatly, until 188 BC, it had not grown significantly since its founding by Philetaerus, and covered c.21 hectares. After this year, a new city wall was constructed,4 kilometres long and enclosing an area of approximately 90 hectares. The Attalids ruled with intelligence and generosity, many documents survive showing how the Attalids supported the growth of towns by sending in skilled artisans and by remitting taxes. They allowed the Greek cities in their domains to maintain nominal independence and they sent gifts to Greek cultural sites like Delphi, Delos, and Athens. They remodeled the Acropolis of Pergamon after the Acropolis in Athens, when Attalus III died without an heir in 133 BC, he bequeathed the whole of Pergamon to Rome in order to prevent a civil war. Not everyone in Pergamon accepted Romes rule, aristonicus, who claimed to be Attalus brother as well as the son of Eumenes II, an earlier king, led a revolt among the lower classes with the help of Blossius. The revolt was put down in 129 BC, and Pergamon was divided among Rome, Pontus, Pergamon was briefly the capital of the Roman province of Asia, before the capital was transferred to Ephesus. After a slow decline, the city was favoured by several imperial initiatives under Hadrian, in addition, at the city limits the shrine to Asclepius was expanded into a lavish spa. This sanctuary grew in fame and was considered one of the most famous therapeutic, galen, after Hippocrates the most famous physician of antiquity, was born at Pergamon and received his early training at the Asclepeion. Pergamon reached the height of its greatness under Roman Imperial rule and was home to about 200,000 inhabitants, the city was an early seat of Christianity and was granted a bishopric by the 2nd century. The city suffered badly during the century and was badly damaged by an earthquake in 262 and was sacked by the Goths shortly after
Pergamum
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The reconstructed Temple of Trajan at Pergamon
Pergamum
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The Kingdom of Pergamon (colored olive), shown at its greatest extent in 188 BC
Pergamum
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Theatre of Pergamon
Pergamum
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The Great Altar of Pergamon, on display in the Pergamonmuseum in Berlin, Germany
6.
Heraclea Pontica
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Heraclea Pontica was an ancient city on the coast of Bithynia in Asia Minor, at the mouth of the river Lycus. The site is now the location of the modern city Karadeniz Ereğli, the colonists soon subjugated the native Mariandynians but agreed to terms that none of the latter, now helot-like serfs, be sold into slavery outside their homeland. The prosperity of the city, rudely shaken by the Galatians and it was the birthplace of the philosopher Heraclides Ponticus. The Greek historical author Memnon of Heraclea wrote a history of Heraclea Pontica in at least sixteen books. The work has perished, but Photiuss Bibliotheca preserves an account of books 9–16. At present, it is the Turkish city of Karadeniz Ereğli, outpost of Hellenism, The Emergence of Heraclea on the Black Sea, Stanley Mayer Burstein, University of California Publications, Classical Studies,14. Coin minted in Heraclea Pontica 3rd–2nd century BC, Photiuss Bibliotheca 224, Memnon of Heraclea, History of Heraclea
Heraclea Pontica
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Map indicating Heraclea Pontica (underlined in red) during the Roman expansion in 264 BC
7.
Hannibal
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Hannibal Barca, was a Carthaginian general, considered one of the greatest military commanders in history. His father Hamilcar Barca was the leading Carthaginian commander during the First Punic War and his younger brothers were Mago and Hasdrubal, and he was brother-in-law to Hasdrubal the Fair. One of his most famous achievements was at the outbreak of the Second Punic War, when he marched an army which included war elephants from Iberia over the Pyrenees, Hannibal occupied much of Italy for 15 years but was unable to march on Rome. An enemy counter-invasion of North Africa forced him to return to Carthage, after the war, Hannibal successfully ran for the office of sufet. During this time, he lived at the Seleucid court, where he acted as advisor to Antiochus III the Great in his war against Rome. Antiochus met defeat at the Battle of Magnesia and was forced to accept Romes terms and his flight ended in the court of Bithynia, where he achieved an outstanding naval victory against a fleet from Pergamon. He was afterwards betrayed to the Romans and committed suicide by poisoning himself, military historian Theodore Ayrault Dodge called Hannibal the father of strategy, because his greatest enemy, Rome, came to adopt elements of his military tactics in its own strategic arsenal. This praise has earned him a reputation in the modern world. The English form of the name is derived from the Latin, Greek historians rendered the name as Anníbas Bárkas. Hannibals name was recorded in Carthaginian sources as ḤNBʻL and its precise vocalization remains a matter of debate. Suggested readings include Ḥannibaʻl or Ḥannibaʻal, meaning grace of Baʻal, Baal is gracious, or Baal has been gracious, or Ḥannobaʻal, Barca was the surname of his aristocratic family, meaning shining or lightning. It is thus equivalent to the Arabic name Barq or the Hebrew name Barak or the ancient Greek epithet keraunos, in English, his clan are sometimes collectively known as the Barcids. As with Greek and Roman practice, patronymics were a part of Carthaginian nomenclature. Hannibal was one of the sons of Hamilcar Barca, a Carthaginian leader and he was born in what is present day Tunisia. He had several sisters and two brothers, Hasdrubal and Mago and his brothers-in-law were Hasdrubal the Fair and the Numidian king Naravas. He was still a child when his sisters married, and his brothers-in-law were close associates during his fathers struggles in the Mercenary War, in light of Hamilcar Barcas cognomen, historians refer to Hamilcars family as the Barcids. However, there is debate as to whether the cognomen Barca was applied to Hamilcar alone or was hereditary within his family, if the latter, then Hannibal and his brothers also bore the name Barca. After Carthages defeat in the First Punic War, Hamilcar set out to improve his familys, with that in mind and supported by Gades, Hamilcar began the subjugation of the tribes of the Iberian Peninsula
Hannibal
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A marble bust, reputedly of Hannibal, originally found at the ancient city-state of Capua in Italy (some historians are uncertain of the authenticity of the portrait).
Hannibal
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Hannibal and his men crossing the Alps.
Hannibal
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Hannibal counting the signet rings of Roman nobles killed during the battle, statue by Sébastien Slodtz, 1704, Louvre.
Hannibal
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Scipio Africanus
8.
Antiochus III the Great
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Antiochus III the Great /ænˈtaɪəkəs/ was a Hellenistic Greek king and the 6th ruler of the Seleucid Empire. He ruled over the region of Syria and large parts of the rest of western Asia towards the end of the 3rd century BC and his traditional designation, the Great, reflects an epithet he assumed. He also assumed the title Basileus Megas, the title of the Persian kings. A militarily active ruler, Antiochus restored much of the territory of the Seleucid Empire, before suffering a setback, towards the end of his reign. He died three years later on campaign in the east, Antiochus III was a member of the Hellenistic Greek Seleucid dynasty. He was the son of king Seleucus II Callinicus and Laodice II and was born around 242 BC near Susa in Persia and he may have borne a non-dynastic name, according to a Babylonian chronicle. He succeeded, under the name Antiochus, his brother Seleucus III Ceraunus, upon the murder in Anatolia. Antiochus III inherited a disorganized state, not only had Asia Minor become detached, but the easternmost provinces had broken away, Bactria under the Greek Diodotus of Bactria, and Parthia under the nomad chieftain Arsaces. Soon after Antiochuss accession, Media and Persis revolted under their governors, the young king, under the influence of the minister Hermeias, headed an attack on Ptolemaic Syria instead of going in person to face the rebels. The attack against the Ptolemaic empire proved a fiasco, and the generals sent against Molon, only in Asia Minor, where the kings cousin, Achaeus, represented the Seleucid cause, did its prestige recover, driving the Pergamene power back to its earlier limits. In 221 BC Antiochus at last went east, and the rebellion of Molon, the submission of Lesser Media, which had asserted its independence under Artabazanes, followed. Antiochus rid himself of Hermeias by assassination and returned to Syria, meanwhile, Achaeus himself had revolted and assumed the title of king in Asia Minor. Since, however, his power was not well grounded to allow an attack on Syria, Antiochus considered that he might leave Achaeus for the present. The campaigns of 219 BC and 218 BC carried the Seleucid armies almost to the confines of Ptolemaic Kingdom and this defeat nullified all Antiochuss successes and compelled him to withdraw north of the Lebanon. Despite the military defeat, Antiochus was able to control of Seleucia pieria. In 216 BC Antiochus army marched into western Anatolia to suppress the rebellion led by Antiochus own cousin Achaeus. Capturing Achaeus, Antiochus had him executed, the citadel managed to hold out until 213 BC under Achaeus widow Laodice who surrendered later. Having thus recovered the central part of Asia Minor Antiochus turned to recovering the outlying provinces of the north and he obliged Xerxes of Armenia to acknowledge his supremacy in 212 BC
Antiochus III the Great
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Bust from the Louvre, possibly Roman copy of Hellenistic portrait of Antiochus III
Antiochus III the Great
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Seleucid Kingdom at the time of Antiochus's accession to the throne.
Antiochus III the Great
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Coin of Antiochos III.
Antiochus III the Great
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Coin of Antiochus the Great. The Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ, of King Antiochus.
9.
Eumenes II
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Eumenes II of Pergamon was king of Pergamon and a member of the Attalid dynasty. He married Stratonice of Pergamon, daughter of Ariarathes IV and his wife Antiochis, since their son was still a minor, the throne was assumed by his brother Attalus II, who married Eumenes widow Stratonice. He also built a stoa on the Athenian acropolis, ithaca, New York, Cornell University Press, London, Cornell University Press Ltd. Kosmetatou, Elizabeth The Attalids of Pergamon, in Andrew Erskine, a Companion to the Hellenistic World
Eumenes II
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Eumenes II
10.
Cyzicus
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Cyzicus was an ancient town of Mysia in Anatolia in the current Balıkesir Province of Turkey. The site of Cyzicus, located on the Erdek and Bandırma roads, is protected by Turkeys Ministry of Culture. Eudoxus of Cnidus had a school at Cyzicus and went with his pupils to Athens, visiting Plato, and then returned to Cyzicus, the era of Olympiads in Cyzicus was reckoned from 135 or 139. Its unique and characteristic coin, the cyzicenus, was worth 28 drachmae, during the Peloponnesian War Cyzicus was subject to the Athenians and Lacedaemonians alternately. In the naval Battle of Cyzicus in 410 during the Peloponnesian War, at the peace of Antalcidas, like the other Greek cities in Asia, it was made over to Persia. Alexander the Great later captured it from the Persians in 334 BC and was claimed to be responsible for the land bridge connecting the island to the mainland. The history of the town in Hellenistic times is closely connected with that of the Attalids of Pergamon, the Romans favored it and recognized its municipal independence. Cyzicus was the city of Northern Mysia as far as Troas. Under Tiberius, it was incorporated into the Roman Empire but remained the capital of Mysia, Cyzicus was captured temporarily by the Arabs led by Muawiyah I in AD675. It appears to have been ruined by a series of earthquakes beginning in 443, following its conquest by the Ottomans it underwent hard times. From a point between 1370 and 1372 until 1387, the metropolitan was empty, Speros Vryonis speculates this was due to financial difficulties, later in the 14th century, the sees of Chalcedon and certain patriarchal possessions in Bithynia and Hellespont were bestowed on the metropolitan of Cyzicus. In the Ottoman era, it was part of the kaza of Erdek in the province of Brusa, Cyzicus, as capital of the Roman province of Hellespontus, was its ecclesiastical metropolitan see. The province also included two autocephalous archiepiscopal sees, Parium and Proconnesus, Cyzicus had a catalogue of bishops beginning with the 1st century, Michel Le Quien mentions fifty-nine. A more complete list is found in Nicodemos, in the Greek Office of St. Emilian, 34-36, another saint who came from Cyzicus, Saint Tryphaena of Cyzicus, is the patron saint of the city. Gelasius, a historian of Arianism, who wrote about 475, was born at Cyzicus, george Kleidas, Metropolitan of Cyzicus in ca. 1253–61 Theodore Skoutariotes, Metropolitan of Cyzicus in ca, the last bishop of the see died in 1932. Today it is a metropolis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Since 1885, the Catholic Church lists Cyzicus as a titular see. of the highest rank, titular metropolitans were, John Baptist Lamy William Benedict Scarisbrick, O. S. B
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Bas relief of a charioteer, late 6th century BC
Cyzicus
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Cyzicus was a town of Mysia.
11.
Prusias II of Bithynia
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Prusias II Cynegus was the Greek king of Bithynia. He was the son and successor of Prusias I and Apama III, Prusias joined with King of Pergamon, Eumenes II in a war against King Pharnaces I of Pontus. He later invaded the territories of Pergamon, only to be defeated, and he sent his son Nicomedes II to Rome to ask their help in reducing the amount of these reparations, but Nicomedes revolted and became King. Towards the end of his life, Prusias II had children by a later wife, Prusias even tried to arrange his eldest son Nicomedes murdered. Nicomedes however revolted against his father, Prusias had to renounce the kingship in favor of his son and ended up being murdered himself instead
Prusias II of Bithynia
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Prusias II, King of Bithynia, Reduced to Begging
12.
Bursa
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Bursa is a large city in Turkey, located in northwestern Anatolia, within the Marmara Region. It is the fourth most populous city in Turkey and one of the most industrialized metropolitan centres in the country, the city is also the administrative centre of Bursa Province. Bursa was the first major and second overall capital of the Ottoman State between 1335 and 1363, the ski resort of Mount Uludağ towers over it. The mountain was called the Mysian Olympus by the Romans who lived there before, Bursa has rather orderly urban growth and borders a fertile plain. The mausoleums of the early Ottoman sultans are located in Bursa, Bursa also has thermal baths and several museums, including a museum of archaeology. The shadow play characters Karagöz and Hacivat are based on historic personalities who lived and died in Bursa, Bursa is also home to some of the most famous Turkish dishes such as İskender kebap, specially candied marron glacés, peaches and Turkish Delight. Bursa houses the Uludağ University, and its population can claim one of the highest overall levels of education in Turkey, the historic towns of İznik, Mudanya and Zeytinbağı are all situated in Bursa Province. In 2015, Bursa had a population of 2,340,000, the earliest known human settlement near Bursas current location was at Ilıpınar Höyüğü around 5200 BC. It was followed by the ancient Greek city of Cius, which Philip V of Macedon granted to Prusias I, Prusias rebuilt the city and renamed it Prusa. After 128 years of Bithynian rule, Nicomedes IV, the last King of Bithynia, an early Roman Treasure was found in the vicinity of Bursa in the early 20th century. Composed of a womans silver toilet articles, it is now in the British Museum, Bursa became the first major capital city of the early Ottoman Empire following its capture from the Byzantines in 1326. As a result, the city witnessed a considerable amount of growth throughout the 14th century. After conquering Edirne in East Thrace, the Ottomans turned it into the new city in 1363. The Ottoman sultan Bayezid I built the Bayezid Külliyesi in Bursa between 1390 and 1395 and the Ulu Cami between 1396 and 1400, Bursa remained to be the most important administrative and commercial centre in the empire until Mehmed II conquered Constantinople in 1453. The population of Bursa was 45,000 in 1487, during the Ottoman period, Bursa continued to be the source of most royal silk products. Following the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, Bursa became one of the centres of the country. The economic development of the city was followed by population growth, the most recent arrival of Balkan Turks took place in the 1940s until the 1990s, when the communist regime in Bulgaria expelled approximately 150,000 Bulgarian Turks to Turkey. About one-third of these 150,000 Bulgarian Turkish refugees eventually settled in Bursa, Bursa is settled on the northwestern slopes of Mount Uludağ in the southern Marmara Region
Bursa
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Top left: City center, Top right: Zafer Plaza AVM; Middle left: Irgandı Bridge, Middle: Statue of Atatürk, Middle right: Bursa Clock Tower; Bottom left: Bursa Botanical Park, Bottom right: City center
Bursa
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A view of Bursa in the 1890s
Bursa
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A view of Bursa in 2013
Bursa
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Kent Meydanı AVM shopping center
13.
Hellenistic period
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It is often considered a period of transition, sometimes even of decadence or degeneration, compared to the enlightenment of the Greek Classical era. The Hellenistic period saw the rise of New Comedy, Alexandrian poetry, the Septuagint, Greek science was advanced by the works of the mathematician Euclid and the polymath Archimedes. The religious sphere expanded to include new gods such as the Greco-Egyptian Serapis, eastern deities such as Attis and Cybele, the Hellenistic period was characterized by a new wave of Greek colonization which established Greek cities and kingdoms in Asia and Africa. This resulted in the export of Greek culture and language to new realms. Equally, however, these new kingdoms were influenced by the cultures, adopting local practices where beneficial, necessary. Hellenistic culture thus represents a fusion of the Ancient Greek world with that of the Near East, Middle East and this mixture gave rise to a common Attic-based Greek dialect, known as Koine Greek, which became the lingua franca through the Hellenistic world. Scholars and historians are divided as to what event signals the end of the Hellenistic era, Hellenistic is distinguished from Hellenic in that the first encompasses the entire sphere of direct ancient Greek influence, while the latter refers to Greece itself. The word originated from the German term hellenistisch, from Ancient Greek Ἑλληνιστής, from Ἑλλάς, Hellenistic is a modern word and a 19th-century concept, the idea of a Hellenistic period did not exist in Ancient Greece. Although words related in form or meaning, e. g, the major issue with the term Hellenistic lies in its convenience, as the spread of Greek culture was not the generalized phenomenon that the term implies. Some areas of the world were more affected by Greek influences than others. The Greek population and the population did not always mix, the Greeks moved and brought their own culture. While a few fragments exist, there is no surviving historical work which dates to the hundred years following Alexanders death. The works of the major Hellenistic historians Hieronymus of Cardia, Duris of Samos, the earliest and most credible surviving source for the Hellenistic period is Polybius of Megalopolis, a statesman of the Achaean League until 168 BC when he was forced to go to Rome as a hostage. His Histories eventually grew to a length of forty books, covering the years 220 to 167 BC, another important source, Plutarchs Parallel Lives though more preoccupied with issues of personal character and morality, outlines the history of important Hellenistic figures. Appian of Alexandria wrote a history of the Roman empire that includes information of some Hellenistic kingdoms, other sources include Justins epitome of Pompeius Trogus Historiae Philipicae and a summary of Arrians Events after Alexander, by Photios I of Constantinople. Lesser supplementary sources include Curtius Rufus, Pausanias, Pliny, in the field of philosophy, Diogenes Laertius Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers is the main source. Ancient Greece had traditionally been a collection of fiercely independent city-states. After the Peloponnesian War, Greece had fallen under a Spartan hegemony, in which Sparta was pre-eminent but not all-powerful
Hellenistic period
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The Nike of Samothrace is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Hellenistic art.
Hellenistic period
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Alexander fighting the Persian king Darius III. From the Alexander Mosaic, Naples National Archaeological Museum.
Hellenistic period
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Alexander's empire at the time of its maximum expansion.
14.
Antigonid dynasty
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The Antigonid dynasty was a dynasty of Hellenistic kings descended from Alexander the Greats general Antigonus I Monophthalmus. Succeeding the Antipatrid dynasty in much of Macedonia, Antigonus ruled mostly over Asia Minor and his attempts to take control of the whole of Alexanders empire led to his defeat and death at the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BC. After a period of confusion, Demetriuss son Antigonus II Gonatas was able to establish the control over the old Kingdom of Macedon, as well as over most of the Greek city-states. It was one of four established by Alexanders successors, the others being the Seleucid dynasty, Ptolemaic dynasty. The ruling members of the Antigonid dynasty were, The Greek rebel against Rome and last King of Macedonia, Andriscus, claimed to be the son of Perseus
Antigonid dynasty
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Coin of Antigonus I Monophthalmus ("the One-eyed") (382 BC - 301 BC).
Antigonid dynasty
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Coin of Demetrius I of Macedon ("The Besieger"), (337 BC – 283 BC), son of Antigonus I Monophthalmus
Antigonid dynasty
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Coin of Antigonus II Gonatas
15.
Demetrius I of Macedon
–
Demetrius I, called Poliorcetes, son of Antigonus I Monophthalmus and Stratonice, was a Macedonian Greek nobleman, military leader, and finally king of Macedon. He belonged to the Antigonid dynasty and was its first member to rule Macedonia, at the age of twenty-two he was left by his father to defend Syria against Ptolemy the son of Lagus. He was defeated at the Battle of Gaza, but soon partially repaired his loss by a victory in the neighbourhood of Myus. In the spring of 310, he was defeated when he tried to expel Seleucus I Nicator from Babylon. As a result of this Babylonian War, Antigonus lost almost two thirds of his empire, all eastern satrapies fell to Seleucus, after several campaigns against Ptolemy on the coasts of Cilicia and Cyprus, Demetrius sailed with a fleet of 250 ships to Athens. He freed the city from the power of Cassander and Ptolemy, expelled the garrison which had been stationed there under Demetrius of Phalerum, after these victories he was worshipped by the Athenians as a tutelary deity under the title of Soter. In the campaign of 306 BC he defeated Ptolemy and Menelaus, Ptolemys brother, in the naval Battle of Salamis, Demetrius conquered Cyprus in 306 BC, capturing one of Ptolemys sons. Following the victory Antigonus assumed the title king and bestowed the same upon his son Demetrius, in 302 BC he returned a second time to Greece as liberator, and reinstated the Corinthian League, but his licentiousness and extravagance made the Athenians long for the government of Cassander. Among his outrages was his courtship of a boy named Democles the Handsome. The youth kept on refusing his attention but one day found himself cornered at the baths, having no way out and being unable to physically resist his suitor, he took the lid off the hot water cauldron and jumped in. His death was seen as a mark of honor for himself, in another instance, Demetrius waived a fine of 50 talents imposed on a citizen in exchange for the favors of Cleaenetus, that mans son. He also sought the attention of Lamia, a Greek courtesan and he demanded 250 talents from the Athenians, which he then gave to Lamia and other courtesans to buy soap and cosmetics. He also roused the jealousy of Alexanders Diadochi, Seleucus, Cassander and Lysimachus united to destroy him, the hostile armies met at the Battle of Ipsus in Phrygia. Antigonus was killed, and Demetrius, after sustaining severe losses and this reversal of fortune stirred up many enemies against him—the Athenians refused even to admit him into their city. But he soon afterwards ravaged the territory of Lysimachus and effected a reconciliation with Seleucus, in 294 he established himself on the throne of Macedonia by murdering Alexander V, the son of Cassander. He faced rebellion from the Boeotians but secured the region after capturing Thebes in 291 BC, after besieging Athens without success he passed into Asia and attacked some of the provinces of Lysimachus with varying success. Famine and pestilence destroyed the part of his army, and he solicited Seleucus support. His son Antigonus offered all his possessions, and even his own person, in order to procure his fathers liberty, but all proved unavailing and his remains were given to Antigonus and honoured with a splendid funeral at Corinth
Demetrius I of Macedon
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Marble bust of Demetrius I Poliorcetes. Roman copy from 1st century AD of a Greek original from 3rd century BC
Demetrius I of Macedon
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Coin of Demetrius I (337-283 BC). Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ([coin] of King Demetrius)
Demetrius I of Macedon
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Demetrius I Poliorcetes portrayed on a tetradrachm coin
Demetrius I of Macedon
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Bronze portrait head, as of September 2007 housed in the Prado Museum, Madrid. This head is no longer identified as Hephaestion, and instead may be Demetrius.
16.
Antigonus II Gonatas
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Antigonus Gonatas was born around 319 BC, probably in Gonnoi in Thessaly unless Gonatas is derived from an iron plate protecting the knee. He was related to the most powerful of the Diadochi, Antigonuss father was Demetrius Poliorcetes, who was the son of Antigonus I Monophthalmus, who then controlled much of Asia. His mother was Phila, the daughter of Antipater, the latter controlled Macedonia and the rest of Greece and was recognized as regent of the empire, which in theory remained united. In this year, however, Antipater died, leading to further struggles for territory, the careers of Antigonuss grandfather and father showed great swings in fortune. The fate of Antigonus Gonatas, now 18, was tied with that of his father Demetrius. Jealousy among the victors eventually allowed Demetrius to regain part of the power his father had lost and he conquered Athens and in 294 BC he seized the throne of Macedonia from Alexander, the son of Cassander. Hoping to seize Lysimachuss territories in Thrace and Asia, Demetrius delegated command of his forces in Boeotia to Antigonus, while he was away, the Boeotians rose in rebellion, but were defeated by Antigonus, who bottled them up in Thebes. After the failure of his expedition to Thrace, Demetrius rejoined his son at the siege of Thebes, as the Thebans defended their city stubbornly, Demetrius often forced his men to attack the city at great cost, even though there was little hope of capturing it. It is said that, distressed by the losses, Antigonus asked his father, Why, father. Demetrius appears to have showed his contempt for the lives of his soldiers by replying, but he also showed a similar disregard for his own life and was badly wounded at the siege by a bolt through the neck. In 291 BC, Demetrius finally took the city after using siege engines to demolish its walls, but control of Macedonia and most of Greece was merely a stepping stone to his plans for further conquest. He aimed at nothing less than the revival of Alexanders empire and started making preparations on a scale, ordering the construction of a fleet of 500 ships. Such preparations and the intent behind them, naturally alarmed the other kings, Seleucus, Ptolemy, Lysimachus, and Pyrrhus. In the spring of 288 BC Ptolemys fleet appeared off Greece, at the same time, Lysimachus attacked Macedonia from the east while Pyrrhus did so from the west. Demetrius left Antigonus in control of Greece, while he hurried to Macedonia, by now the Macedonians had come to resent the extravagance and arrogance of Demetrius, and were not prepared to fight a difficult campaign for him. In 287 BC, Pyrrhus took the Macedonian city of Verroia and Demetriuss army promptly deserted, at this change of fortune, Phila, the mother of Antigonus, killed herself with poison. Demetrius therefore returned and besieged the city, but he grew impatient. Leaving Antigonus in charge of the war in Greece, he assembled all his ships and embarked with 11,000 infantry and all his cavalry to attack Caria and Lydia, provinces of Lysimachus
Antigonus II Gonatas
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Coin of Antigonus Gonatas
Antigonus II Gonatas
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Coin of Antigonus II Gonatas. The Greek inscription reads " ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΟΥ " meaning "of king Antigonus".
Antigonus II Gonatas
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northern border at 240 bc
17.
Andriscus
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Andriscus, also often referenced as Pseudo-Philip, was the last King of Macedon. A pretender who claimed to be the son of Perseus of Macedon and his reign lasted just a year. In 168 BC, the Romans invaded Macedonia and overthrew king Perseus in the First Battle of Pydna, in 149 BC, Andriskos, claiming to be Perseus son, announced his intention to retake Macedonia from the Romans. As his first attempt, he travelled to Syria to request military help from Demetrius Soter of Syria, Demetrius instead handed him over to the Romans but Andriskos managed to escape from Roman captivity, and raised a Thracian army. With this army, he invaded Macedonia and defeated the Roman praetor Publius Juventius in 149 BC, Andriskos then declared himself King Philip VI of Macedonia. In 148 BC, Andriskos conquered Thessaly and made an alliance with Carthage, Andriscus brief reign over Macedonia was marked by cruelty and extortion. After this, Macedonia was formally reduced to a Roman province, attribution This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain, Chisholm, Hugh, ed. Andriscus. This article incorporates text from a now in the public domain, Smith. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
Andriscus
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Coin of Andriscus. Greek inscription reads BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦIΛIΠΠOY (King Philip).
Andriscus
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Death of the "false Philip" in a 15th century miniature.
18.
Ptolemaic dynasty
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Their rule lasted for 275 years, from 305 to 30 BC. They were the last dynasty of ancient Egypt, Ptolemy, one of the seven somatophylakes who served as Alexander the Greats generals and deputies, was appointed satrap of Egypt after Alexanders death in 323 BC. In 305 BC, he declared himself Ptolemy I, later known as Sōter Saviour, the Egyptians soon accepted the Ptolemies as the successors to the pharaohs of independent Egypt. Ptolemys family ruled Egypt until the Roman conquest of 30 BC, all the male rulers of the dynasty took the name Ptolemy. Ptolemaic queens regnant, some of whom were the sisters of their husbands, were usually called Cleopatra, Arsinoe or Berenice. The most famous member of the line was the last queen, Cleopatra VII and her apparent suicide at the conquest by Rome marked the end of Ptolemaic rule in Egypt. Dates in brackets represent the dates of the Ptolemaic pharaohs. They frequently ruled jointly with their wives, who were also their sisters. Of these, one of the last and most famous was Cleopatra, several systems exist for numbering the later rulers, the one used here is the one most widely used by modern scholars. Arsinoe IV, in opposition to Cleopatra Ptolemy Keraunos - eldest son of Ptolemy I Soter, Ptolemy Apion - son of Ptolemy VIII Physcon. Ptolemy Philadelphus - son of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII, Ptolemy of Mauretania - son of King Juba II of Numidia and Mauretania and Cleopatra Selene II, daughter of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony. Contemporaries describe a number of the Ptolemaic dynasty members as extremely obese, whilst sculptures and coins reveal prominent eyes, familial Graves disease could explain the swollen necks and eye prominence, although this is unlikely to occur in the presence of morbid obesity. A. Lampela, Rome and the Ptolemies of Egypt, the development of their political relations 273-80 B. C. J. G. Manning, The Last Pharaohs, Egypt Under the Ptolemies, 305-30 BC. Livius. org, Ptolemies — by Jona Lendering
Ptolemaic dynasty
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Ptolemy I Soter.
Ptolemaic dynasty
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Ptolemy II
Ptolemaic dynasty
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Ptolemy V
Ptolemaic dynasty
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Ptolemy VI
19.
Ptolemy I Soter
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Ptolemy I Soter I, also known as Ptolemy Lagides, was a Macedonian Greek general under Alexander the Great, one of the three Diadochi who succeeded to his empire. Ptolemy became ruler of Egypt and founded a dynasty which ruled it for the three centuries, turning Egypt into a Hellenistic kingdom and Alexandria into a center of Greek culture. He assimilated some aspects of Egyptian culture, however, assuming the title pharaoh in 305/4 BC. The use of the title of pharaoh was often situational, pharaoh was used for an Egyptian audience, like all Macedonian nobles, Ptolemy I Soter claimed descent from Heracles, the mythical founder of the Argead dynasty that ruled Macedon. Ptolemy was one of Alexanders most trusted generals, and was among the seven somatophylakes attached to his person and he was a few years older than Alexander and had been his intimate friend since childhood. He was succeeded by his son Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Ptolemy served with Alexander from his first campaigns, and played a principal part in the later campaigns in Afghanistan and India. Ptolemy had his first independent command during the campaign against the rebel Bessus whom Ptolemy captured and handed over to Alexander for execution. During Alexanders campaign in the Indian subcontinent Ptolemy was in command of the guard at the siege of Aornos. When Alexander died in 323 BC, Ptolemy is said to have instigated the resettlement of the made at Babylon. Ptolemy quickly moved, without authorization, to subjugate Cyrenaica, by custom, kings in Macedonia asserted their right to the throne by burying their predecessor. Ptolemy then openly joined the coalition against Perdiccas, Perdiccas appears to have suspected Ptolemy of aiming for the throne himself, and may have decided that Ptolemy was his most dangerous rival. Ptolemy executed Cleomenes for spying on behalf of Perdiccas — this removed the check on his authority. In 321 BC, Perdiccas attempted to invade Egypt only to fall at the hands of his own men, Ptolemys decision to defend the Nile against Perdiccass attempt to force it ended in fiasco for Perdiccas, with the loss of 2000 men. This failure was a blow to Perdiccas reputation, and he was murdered in his tent by two of his subordinates. Ptolemy immediately crossed the Nile, to provide supplies to what had the day before been an enemy army, Ptolemy was offered the regency in place of Perdiccas, but he declined. Ptolemy was consistent in his policy of securing a power base and his first occupation of Syria was in 318, and he established at the same time a protectorate over the petty kings of Cyprus. When Antigonus One-Eye, master of Asia in 315, showed dangerous ambitions, Ptolemy joined the coalition against him, in Cyprus, he fought the partisans of Antigonus, and re-conquered the island. A revolt in Cyrene was crushed the same year, in 312, Ptolemy and Seleucus, the fugitive satrap of Babylonia, both invaded Syria, and defeated Demetrius Poliorcetes, the son of Antigonus, in the Battle of Gaza
Ptolemy I Soter
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Bust of Ptolemy I in the Louvre Museum
Ptolemy I Soter
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Ptolemy as Pharaoh of Egypt, British Museum, London.
Ptolemy I Soter
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The taking of Jerusalem by Ptolemy Soter ca. 320 BC, by Jean Fouquet.
Ptolemy I Soter
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A rare coin of Ptolemy I, a reminder of his successful campaigns with Alexander in India. Obv: Ptolemy in profile at the beginning of his reign. Rev: Alexander triumphantly riding a chariot drawn by elephants.
20.
Ptolemy V Epiphanes
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Ptolemy V Epiphanes, son of Ptolemy IV Philopator and Arsinoe III of Egypt, was the fifth ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty. He inherited the throne at the age of five, and under a series of regents, the Rosetta Stone was produced during his reign as an adult. Ptolemy Epiphanes was only a boy when his father, Ptolemy Philopator. However, in 202 BC, Tlepolemus, the general in charge of Pelusium, once Epiphanes was in the hands of Tlepolemus he was persuaded to give a sign that his mothers killers should be killed. The child king gave his consent, it is more from fear than anything else. Antiochus III the Great and Philip V of Macedon made a pact to divide the Ptolemaic possessions overseas, Philip seized several islands and populated places in Caria and Thrace, whilst the Battle of Panium definitively transferred Coele-Syria, including Judea, from the Ptolemies to the Seleucids. Antiochus then concluded peace, giving his own daughter Cleopatra I to Epiphanes in marriage, nevertheless, when war broke out between Antiochus and Rome, Egypt ranged itself with the latter power. Epiphanes came of age in approximately 196 or 197 BC with a known as an anacleteria. In manhood, Epiphanes was a sportsman, he excelled in athletic exercises. Great cruelty and treachery were displayed in the suppression of the native rebellion, in 197 BC, Lycopolis was held by the forces of Ankmachis, the secessionist pharaoh of Upper Egypt, but he was forced to withdraw to Thebes. The war between Upper and Lower Egypt continued until 185 BC with the arrest of Ankhmachis by Ptolemaic general Conanus and this victory re-established Ptolemaic rule in Upper Egypt, as well as the Triakontaschoinos. In 183 BC/184 BC, the rebels in Lower Egypt surrendered on the basis of terms that Epiphanes had personally promised to honor, however, showing himself treacherous and vindictive, he had them put to death in a cruel manner. The elder of Ptolemy Vs two sons, Ptolemy VI Philometor, succeeded as an infant under the regency of his mother Cleopatra the Syrian and her death was followed by a rupture between the Ptolemaic and Seleucid courts, on the old question of Coele-Syria. Ptolemy Vs reign was marked by trade with other contemporaneous polities. In the 1930s, excavations by Mattingly at a close to Port Dunford in present-day southern Somalia yielded a number of Ptolemaic coins. Among these pieces were 17 copper mints from the Ptolemy III to Ptolemy V dynasties, as well as late Imperial Rome, a History of Egypt Under the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Chronicles of the Pharaohs, The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers, Ptolemy V Epiphanes entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
Ptolemy V Epiphanes
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Tetradrachm issued by Ptolemy V Epiphanes, British Museum
Ptolemy V Epiphanes
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Ptolemaic Empire in 200 BC, during the reign of Ptolemy V (before the second invasion of Antiochus III)
21.
Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator
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Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator was an Egyptian king of the Ptolemaic period. His reign is controversial, and it is possible that he did not reign at all, by tradition, though, the numbering of the Ptolemies is kept intact. This lowers the numbering of all the later Ptolemies, until Caesarion is Ptolemy XIV, Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator
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Gold octadrachm issued by Ptolemy VII
22.
Ptolemy VIII Physcon
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Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II, nicknamed Physcon, was a king of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. Ptolemy VIIIs complicated political career started in 170 BC and this is when Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire invaded and captured King Ptolemy VI Philometor and all of Egypt, with the exception of the city of Alexandria. Antiochus allowed Ptolemy VI to continue as a puppet monarch, meanwhile, the people of Alexandria chose Ptolemy Euergetes, his younger brother, as king. Euergetes was popularly known as Physkōn, Latinized as Physcon, meaning sausage, potbelly or bladder, instead of taking up arms against one another, the brothers decided to co-rule Egypt. After Antiochus withdrew from the area in 168 BC due to threats from Rome, Physcon agreed to jointly rule Egypt in a triumvirate with Philometor and Cleopatra II. This arrangement led to continuous intrigues, lasting until October 164 BC, when Philometor traveled to Rome to appear before the Senate, who were somewhat agreeable with the arrangement. However, areas under Physcons sole rule were not satisfied with the arrangement and this left Physcon in charge of Cyrenaica. Although the arrangement lasted until Philometors death in 145 BC, it did not end the power struggles, Physcon convinced the Roman Senate to back his claims on Cyprus, but Philometor opposed this. Physcons attempt to conquer the island failed and the Senate sent Philometors ambassadors home, in 156 or 155 BC, Philometor tried to have Physcon assassinated but failed. Physcon went to Rome, displaying the scars he had received in the attempt, despite opposition from Cato the Elder, he received the Senates support and further resources for another attempt on Cyprus. During his time in Rome he met Cornelia Africana, and asked for her hand in marriage, the second attempt on Cyprus also failed. Philometor captured and held Physcon prisoner, but spared him, offering him instead the hand of his daughter, Cleopatra Thea, when Philometor died on a campaign in 145 BC, Cleopatra II quickly had her son proclaimed King Ptolemy VII. Physcon, however, returned from battle and proposed joint rule and marriage with Cleopatra II and he had the younger Ptolemy assassinated during the wedding feast and claimed the throne himself, as Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II, and had himself proclaimed pharaoh in 144 BC. In 145 BC, Physcon took his revenge on the intellectuals of Alexandria who had opposed him, including Aristarchus of Samothrace and he engaged in mass purges and expulsions, leaving Alexandria a changed city. Physcon seduced and married Cleopatra III without divorcing Cleopatra II, who became infuriated, many speculate that Physcon only married Cleopatra II because he was plotting to marry Cleopatra III when she became of marrying age. By 132 or 131 BC, the people of Alexandria had rioted, Physcon, Cleopatra III, and their children escaped to Cyprus, while Cleopatra II had their twelve-year-old son, Ptolemy Memphitis, acclaimed as king. Physcon was able to get hold of the boy, killed him, the ensuing civil war pitted Cleopatras city of Alexandria against the rest of the country, who supported Physcon. Growing desperate, Cleopatra offered the throne of Egypt to the Seleucid king Demetrius II Nicator, by 127 BC, Cleopatra fled to Syria
Ptolemy VIII Physcon
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tetradrachm of Ptolemy VIII
Ptolemy VIII Physcon
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Stele (monument) attributed to Ptolemy VIII, glorifying his rule and describing his support of Egyptian gods. The stele was written in Egyptian hieroglyphs as well as Greek.
23.
Cleopatra III of Egypt
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Cleopatra III was a queen of Egypt 142–101 BC. Cleopatra III was also known as Cleopatra Euergetis while associated with her husband Ptolemy VIII or her son Ptolemy X and she is attested as Cleopatra Philometor Soteira while associated with her eldest son Ptolemy IX. But he was forced to abdicate. Cleopatra III’s parents retook the throne and remained in power for almost 20 years until 145 BC and it was during this time that Cleopatra III was born, a sister of Ptolemy Eupator, Cleopatra Thea and possibly Berenice. Ptolemy VIII first married Cleopatra III’s mother Cleopatra II in 145 BC, Cleopatra II rebelled against Ptolemy VIII in c.132 BC and Cleopatra III fled to Cyprus in 130 BC with her husband, but was able to return to Alexandria in 127 BC. Cleopatra III and Ptolemy VIII had five children, Ptolemy IX born c.143 BC Tryphaena born c.141 BC, married Antiochus VIII Grypus, king of Syria in 124 BC Ptolemy X born c.140 or 139 BC. Married his niece Berenice Cleopatra IV born between 138 and 135 BC, married first her brother Ptolemy IX and second Antiochus IX Cyzicenus, king of Syria Cleopatra Selene I born between 135 and 130 BC. Married first to her brother Ptolemy IX, and later to her brother Ptolemy X, after the death of Ptolemy VIII in 116 BC Cleopatra III ruled jointly with her mother Cleopatra II and her son Ptolemy IX. Cleopatra III expelled Ptolemy IX from Alexandria in 107 BC and replaced him as co-regent with her second son Ptolemy X, after 6 years of joint rule Ptolemy X had his mother Cleopatra III murdered in 101 BC
Cleopatra III of Egypt
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Cleopatra III
Cleopatra III of Egypt
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Wall relief of Cleopatra III, Cleopatra II and Ptolemy VIII before Horus
24.
Berenice III of Egypt
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Berenice III, sometimes called Cleopatra Berenice, ruled as queen of Egypt from 81 to 80 BC, and possibly from 101 to 88 BC jointly with her uncle/husband Ptolemy X Alexander I. She was born in 120 BC, the daughter of Ptolemy IX Lathyros and she married Ptolemy X Alexander I in 101 BC, after he took the throne from Lathyros and had his mother Cleopatra III killed. When Lathyros reclaimed the throne, Berenice lost her own rule, however, when Lathyros died at the end of 81 BC, Berenice took over the throne and ruled for six months, during which time she gained the love of the people. She was forced to marry Ptolemy XI Alexander II in 80 BC and he had her killed 19 days later, which moved the people to revolt and kill him a few days later. Berenice is the subject of Berenice, an opera by Handel
Berenice III of Egypt
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Berenice III
25.
Ptolemy XIV of Egypt
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Ptolemy XIV, was a son of Ptolemy XII of Egypt and one of the last members of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. Following the death of his older brother Ptolemy XIII of Egypt on January 13,47 BC, he was proclaimed Pharaoh and co-ruler by their sister and remaining Pharaoh. He and Cleopatra were married, but Cleopatra continued to act as lover of Roman dictator Julius Caesar, Ptolemy is considered to have reigned in name only, with Cleopatra keeping actual authority to herself. On March 15,44 BC Caesar was murdered in Rome by a group of conspirators whose most notable members were Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, Ptolemy soon followed him in death. An inscription mentioning him as alive was dated at July 26,44 BC, Ptolemy XIV Theos Philopator II entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
Ptolemy XIV of Egypt
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Ancestry [edit]
26.
Caesarion
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Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, better known by the nicknames Caesarion and Ptolemy Caesar, was the last Pharaoh of Egypt. He was the member of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. It is unknown whether Octavians order was carried out successfully and he was the eldest son of Cleopatra VII, and possibly the only biological son of Julius Caesar, after whom he was named. Caesarion was born in Egypt on June 23,47 BC and his mother Cleopatra insisted that he was the son of Julius Caesar. Caesarion was said to have inherited Caesars looks and manner, Caesars supporter Gaius Oppius wrote a pamphlet which attempted to prove that Caesar could not have fathered Caesarion. Nevertheless, Caesar may have allowed Caesarion to use his name, the matter became contentious when Caesars adopted son Octavian came into conflict with Cleopatra. Caesarion spent two of his infant years, from 46 to 44 BC, in Rome, where he, Cleopatra hoped that her son would eventually succeed his father as the head of the Roman Republic as well as of Egypt. After Caesars assassination on March 15,44 BC, Cleopatra, Caesarion was named co-ruler by his mother on September 2,44 BC at the age of three, although he was pharaoh in name only, with Cleopatra keeping actual authority all to herself. Cleopatra compared her relationship to her son with the Egyptian goddess Isis, during the tense period leading up to the final conflict between Mark Antony and Octavian, the two of them initially shared control of the Republic in a triumvirate with Lepidus. Lepidus was forced into retirement by Octavian in 36 BC, Octavian and Mark Antony were then left in control of the Western and Eastern provinces respectively. There is no record of Caesarion between 44 BC until the Donations of Antioch in 36 BC. Two years later he appears at the Donations of Alexandria. In 34 BC, Antony granted further lands and titles to Caesarion. Caesarion was proclaimed to be a god, a son of god and this grandiose title was unprecedented in the management of Roman client-king relationships and could be seen as threatening the greatness of the Roman people. Antony also declared Caesarion to be Caesars true son and heir and this declaration was a direct threat to Octavian. These proclamations partly caused the breach in Antonys relations with Octavian. After the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC and she may have intended to go into exile, perhaps with Antony, who may have hoped that he would be allowed to retire as Lepidus had. Caesarion reappears in the record in 30 BC, when Octavian invaded Egypt
Caesarion
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Caesarion, from the "Unravel the Mystery" Cleopatra exhibit
Caesarion
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A relief of Cleopatra VII and Caesarion at the temple of Dendera, Egypt
27.
Magas of Cyrene
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Magas of Cyrene was a Greek Macedonian nobleman. Through his mother’s second marriage he was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty and he became King of Cyrenaica and he managed to wrestle independence for Cyrenaica from the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty of Ancient Egypt. Magas was the son of the noblewoman Berenice and her first husband Philip. He had two sisters, Antigone and Theoxena. His father, Philip was the son of Amyntas by an unnamed mother, plutarch implies that his father was previously married and had children, including daughters born to him. Phillip served as a officer in the service of the Macedonian King Alexander the Great and was known for commanding one division of the Phalanx in Alexander’s wars. His mother Berenice was a noblewoman from Eordeaea and she was the daughter of local obscure nobleman Magas and noblewoman Antigone. Berenice’s mother was the niece of the powerful Regent Antipater and was a distant collateral relative to the Argead dynasty and he was the namesake of his maternal grandfather. About 318 BC, his father died of natural causes, after the death of Magas’ father, Magas’ mother took him and his siblings to Egypt where they were a part of the entourage of his mother’s second maternal cousin Eurydice. Eurydice was then the wife of Ptolemy I Soter, the first Greek Pharaoh, by 317 BC, Ptolemy I fell in love with Berenice and divorced Eurydice to marry her. His mother, through her marriage to Ptolemy, was an Egyptian Queen, through his mother’s marriage to Ptolemy, Magas was a stepson to Ptolemy, he became an Egyptian Prince living in his stepfather’s court and was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty. His mother bore Ptolemy three children, two daughters, Arsinoe II, Philotera and the future Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Magas received the governorship of Cyrenaica from his mother. Magas then married Apama II, his maternal cousin and one of the daughters of Seleucid King Antiochus I Soter. Antiochus I used his marital alliance to foment a pact to invade Egypt, Apama II and Magas had a daughter called Berenice II, who was their only child. Magas opened hostilities against Ptolemy II in 274 BC, attacking Egypt from the west, however, Magas had to cancel his operations due to an internal revolt of the Libyan nomad Marmaridae. In the east, Antiochus I suffered defeat against the armies of Ptolemy II, Magas at least managed to maintain the independence of Cyrenaica until his death in 250 BC. Over a year after Magas died, his daughter married Ptolemy III Euergetes, through Berenice II’s marriage to her paternal cousin, Magas’ Kingdom was reabsorbed by Ptolemaic Egypt. Magas is mentioned in the Edicts of Ashoka, as one of the recipients of the Indian Emperor Ashokas Buddhist proselytism, Ashoka also claims that he encouraged the development of herbalism, for men and animals, in the territories of the Hellenistic Kings
Magas of Cyrene
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Berenice II, was the daughter of Magas of Cyrene.
28.
Ptolemy Apion
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Ptolemy Apion or simply known as Apion was the last Greek Cyrenaean King and was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Ptolemy was Greek and native Egyptian in descent and his second name Apion is a name of ancient Egyptian origin and could be a name from his maternal ancestry. Ptolemy was a son and was the first child among the children of Egyptian Greek prince, Cyrenaean King, Ptolemy’s paternal uncle was the Egyptian Greek Pharaoh Ptolemy VI Philometor and his paternal aunt was the Egyptian Greek princess and queen Cleopatra II of Egypt. His paternal grandparents were Egyptian Greek Pharaoh Ptolemy V Epiphanes and Egyptian Greek Queen who was a Greek princess of the Seleucid Empire Cleopatra I of Egypt, Ptolemy’s mother was a native Egyptian woman called Eirene or according to the Roman Jewish historian Josephus her name was Ithaca. Eirene originated from Cyrenaica and not much is known on her origins and she was a mistress of Physcon’s and was among his concubines. Eirene served as Physcon’s mistress from 150 BC til 127 BC, Eirene accompanied Physcon in 145 BC to Egypt when he became pharaoh and succeeded his brother Ptolemy VI. Ptolemy was most probably born in Cyrene, the capital of Cyrenaica, until 116 BC, he most probably lived in Egypt. Ptolemy never held a royal Egyptian title, in 116 BC, Ptolemy’s father had died. From Physcon’s will, Ptolemy inherited Cyrenaica and in that year, when he became king, Ptolemy succeeded without any political opposition. Unfortunately, little is recorded of Ptolemy’s reign of Cyrenaica, Ptolemy died in 96 BC and he implemented the terms of his father’s will for Cyrenaica. He never married and had no heirs, in Ptolemy’s will, he left Cyrenaica and his ancestral royal estates to the rule of the Roman Republic. Physcon had planned this for Cyrenaica after Ptolemy’s death, Ptolemy’s ancestral estates were occupied by locals in the 1st century. The occupiers of the estates, needed assistance from the Roman Emperor Nero to legalise the land title through their occupations, so they could own the estates
Ptolemy Apion
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Portrait of a Ptolemaic ruler, maybe Ptolemy Apion, 1st century BC, from the temple of Apollo at Cyrene, British Museum
29.
Antiochus II Theos
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Antiochus II Theos was a Greek king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire who reigned from 261 to 246 BC. He succeeded his father Antiochus I Soter in the winter of 262–61 BC and he was the younger son of Antiochus I and princess Stratonice, the daughter of Demetrius Poliorcetes. Antiochus also made some attempt to get a footing in Thrace, during the war he was given the title Theos, being such to the Milesians in slaying the tyrant Timarchus. During the time Antiochus was occupied with the war against Egypt, Andragoras, his satrap in Parthia, then about 238 BC, Arsaces led a revolt of the Parthians against Andragoras, leading to the foundation of the Parthian Empire. These events would have cut off communications with India, phylarchus relays current scandals regarding his drunken banquets and liaisons with unsuitable young men. About this time, Antiochus made peace with Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Antiochus repudiated his wife Laodice I and exiled her to Ephesus. To seal the treaty, he married Ptolemys daughter Berenice and received an enormous dowry, during her stay in Ephesus, Laodice I continued numerous intrigues to become queen again. By 246 BC Antiochus had left Berenice and their infant son Antiochus, Laodice I took the occasion to poison Antiochus while her partisans at Antioch murdered Berenice and their infant son. Antiochus was buried in the Belevi Mausoleum, Laodice I then proclaimed Seleucus II as King. With his cousin-wife Laodice I, Antiochus had two sons, Seleucus II Callinicus, Antiochus Hierax and three daughters, Apama, Stratonice of Cappadocia and Laodice, wherever medical herbs suitable for humans or animals are not available, I have had them imported and grown. Wherever medical roots or fruits are not available I have had them imported, along roads I have had wells dug and trees planted for the benefit of humans and animals. Antiochus II entry in Seleucid Genealogy This article incorporates text from a now in the public domain, Chisholm, Hugh
Antiochus II Theos
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Coin of Antiochus II. The Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ (of king Antiochus).
30.
Seleucus II Callinicus
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Seleucus II Callinicus Pogon, was a ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, who reigned from 246 to 225 BC. After the death of his father, Antiochus, he was proclaimed king by his mother, Laodice in Ephesos, while her partisans at Antioch murdered Berenice and her son and this dynastic feud began the Third Syrian War. Ptolemy III, who was Berenices brother and the ruler of Egypt, invaded the Seleucid Empire and he received the submission of the Seleucid Empires eastern provinces, while Egyptian fleets swept the coast of Asia Minor. Seleucus managed to maintain himself in the interior of Asia Minor, when Ptolemy returned to Egypt, Seleucus recovered Northern Syria and the nearer provinces of Iran. However, Antiochus Hierax, a brother of Seleucus, was set up as a rival in Asia Minor against Seleucus by a party to which Laodice herself adhered. At the Battle of Ancyra Seleucus sustained a defeat and left the country beyond the Taurus to his brother. Seleucus then undertook an anabasis to regain Parthia, the results of which came to nothing, according to some sources, he was even taken prisoner for several years by the Parthian king. Other sources mention that he established a peace with Arsaces I, in Asia Minor, Pergamon now rose to greatness under Attalus I. Antiochus Hierax, after an attempt to seize his brothers dominions when his own were vanishing. About a year later, Seleucus was killed by a fall from his horse, Seleucus II married his cousin Laodice II, by whom he had five children and among them were, Antiochis, Seleucus III Ceraunus and Antiochus III the Great. He was succeeded by his son, Seleucus III Ceraunus. Seleucus II Callinicus entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith This article incorporates text from a now in the public domain, Chisholm, Hugh
Seleucus II Callinicus
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Coin of Seleucus II. Reverse shows Apollo leaning on a tripod. The Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ (of King Seleucus).
31.
Seleucus IV Philopator
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Seleucus IV Philopator, ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, reigned from 187 BC to 175 BC over a realm consisting of Syria, Mesopotamia, Babylonia and Nearer Iran. He was the son and successor of Antiochus III the Great. Seleucus IV wed his sister Laodice IV, by whom he had three children, two sons Antiochus, Demetrius I Soter and a daughter Laodice V and he was compelled by financial necessities, created in part by the heavy war-indemnity exacted by Rome, to pursue an ambitious policy. In an effort to collect money to pay the Romans, he sent his minister Heliodorus to Jerusalem to seize the Jewish temple treasury, the Bible tells of a prophecy given by a messenger angel in Daniel 11,20. The text states that Seleucus will be remembered as the king who sent a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor, the deuterocanonical lends more to this in 2 Maccabees 3, 2-3. On his return from Jerusalem, Heliodorus assassinated Seleucus, and seized the throne for himself, the true heir Demetrius, son of Seleucus, was now being retained in Rome as a hostage, and the kingdom was seized by the younger brother of Seleucus, Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Antiochus managed to oust Heliodorus and an infant son of Seleucus, list of Syrian monarchs Timeline of Syrian history Seleucus IV Philopator entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
Seleucus IV Philopator
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Coin of Seleucus IV Philopator, stamp Greek: (Β)ΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ (ΣΕ)ΛΕΥΚΟΥ
32.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes
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Antiochus IV Epiphanes was a Hellenistic Greek king of the Seleucid Empire from 175 BC until his death in 164 BC. He was a son of King Antiochus III the Great and his original name was Mithradates, he assumed the name Antiochus after he ascended the throne. Notable events during the reign of Antiochus IV include his near-conquest of Egypt, his persecution of the Jews of Judea and Samaria, and these epithets included Θεὸς Ἐπιφανής manifest god, and, after his defeat of Egypt, Νικηφόρος bringer of victory. His older brother Seleucus IV followed his father onto the throne in 187 BC, King Seleucus was assassinated by the usurper Heliodorus in 175 BC, but Antiochus in turn ousted him. To avoid alarming Rome, Antiochus allowed Ptolemy VI to continue ruling as a puppet king, upon Antiochus withdrawal, the city of Alexandria chose a new king, one of Ptolemys brothers, also named Ptolemy. The Ptolemy brothers agreed to rule Egypt jointly instead of fighting a civil war, in 168 BC, Antiochus led a second attack on Egypt and also sent a fleet to capture Cyprus. This implied Rome would declare war if the King stepped out of the circle without committing to leave Egypt immediately, weighing his options, Antiochus decided to withdraw. Only then did Popillius agree to shake hands with him, the Seleucids, like the Ptolemies before them, held a mild suzerainty over Judea, they respected Jewish culture and protected Jewish institutions. This policy was reversed by Antiochus IV, resulting in harsh persecutions and a revolt against his rule. According to the authors of the Books of Maccabees, while Antiochus was busy in Egypt, in Judea, the deposed High Priest Jason gathered a force of 1,000 soldiers and made a surprise attack on the city of Jerusalem. Menelaus, the High Priest appointed by Antiochus, was forced to flee Jerusalem during a riot, King Antiochus returned from Egypt in 167 BC, enraged by his defeat, he attacked Jerusalem and restored Menelaus, then executed many Jews. When these happenings were reported to the king, he thought that Judea was in revolt, raging like a wild animal, he set out from Egypt and took Jerusalem by storm. He ordered his soldiers to cut down without mercy those whom they met, there was a massacre of young and old, a killing of women and children, a slaughter of virgins and infants. In the space of three days, eighty thousand were lost, forty thousand meeting a violent death, and the number being sold into slavery. Antiochus decided to side with the Hellenized Jews in order to consolidate his empire and he outlawed Jewish religious rites and traditions kept by observant Jews and ordered the worship of Zeus as the supreme god. This was anathema to the Jews and they refused, so Antiochus sent an army to enforce his decree, the city of Jerusalem was destroyed because of the resistance, many were slaughtered, and Antiochus established a military Greek citadel called the Acra. Traditionally, as expressed in the First and Second Books of the Maccabees, in modern times, however, scholars have argued that the king was instead intervening in a civil war between the traditionalist Jews in the country and the Hellenized Jews in Jerusalem. It seems that the traditionalists, with Hebrew/Aramaic names such as Onias, contested with the Hellenizers, with Greek names such as Jason and Menelaus, over who would be the High Priest
Antiochus IV Epiphanes
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Bust of Antiochus IV at the Altes Museum in Berlin.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes
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Traditions
33.
Antiochus V Eupator
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Antiochus V Eupator was a ruler of the Greek Seleucid Empire who reigned 163–161 BC. He was appointed as King by the Romans with his protector Lysias as regent, Antiochus V was only nine years old when he succeeded to the kingship, following the death in Persia of his father Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his mother Laodice IV. The general Lysias, who had left in charge of Syria by Epiphanes, served as regent for the child. At the outset of the reign of Antiochus V, there was an attempt by the Syrians to quell the Maccabean Revolt in Judea, Lysias felt threatened, and advised Antiochus V to offer peace to the Jews. The Jews accepted, however, in order to ensure they would not rise against them soon again, upon reaching their own kingdom, Lysias and Antiochus V found Philip in control of the capital Antiochia, but they defeated him and retook the city and kingdom. Lysias dared do nothing to oppose the Romans, but his subservience so enraged his Syrian subjects that the Roman envoy Gnaeus Octavius was assassinated in Laodicea, at this juncture Demetrius escaped from Rome and was received in Syria as the true king. Antiochus Eupator was soon put to death together with his protector Lysias, list of Syrian monarchs Antiochus V Eupator entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
Antiochus V Eupator
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Coin depicting the image of Antiochus V, with the Greek inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY which reads "of King Antiochus"
34.
Alexander Balas
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Alexander I Balas, ruler of the Greek Seleucid kingdom in 150–146 BC. Alexander defeated his brother Demetrius Soter for the crown in 150 BC, ruling briefly, he lost the crown to his brother during his defeat at the battle of Antioch in Syria, dying shortly after. He was a native of Smyrna of humble origin, but gave out to be the son of Antiochus IV Epiphanes and Laodice IV. Alexanders claims were recognized by the Roman Senate, Ptolemy Philometor of Egypt and he married Cleopatra Thea, a daughter of the Ptolemaic dynasty. At first unsuccessful, Alexander finally defeated Demetrius Soter in 150 BC, being now master of the empire, he is said to have abandoned himself to a life of debauchery. Whatever the truth behind this, the king was forced to depend heavily on his Ptolemaic support. Demetrius Soters son Demetrius II profited by the opportunity to regain the throne, Ptolemy Philometor, who was Alexanders father-in-law, went over to his side, and Alexander was defeated in the battle of Antioch in Syria, sometimes known as the battle of the Oenoparus. He fled for refuge to a Nabataean prince, who murdered him and sent his head to Ptolemy Philometor, list of Syrian monarchs Timeline of Syrian history Maas, Anthony John. 1 and 2 Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews Appian, Syrian Wars,67 Polybius, Alexander Balas, article in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
Alexander Balas
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Silver coin of Alexander I "Balas". The Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΧΑΝΔΡΟΥ (king Alexander). The date ΓΞΡ is year 163 of the Seleucid era, corresponding to 150–149 BC.
Alexander Balas
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Alexander Balas and Cleopatra Thea.
Alexander Balas
35.
Antiochus VI Dionysus
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Antiochus VI Dionysus, king of the Hellenistic Seleucid kingdom, was the son of Alexander Balas and Cleopatra Thea, daughter of Ptolemy VI of Egypt. Antiochus VI did not actually rule, either already in 145 or in early 144 BC he was nominated by the general Diodotus Tryphon as heir to the throne in opposition to Demetrius II, and remained the generals tool. 142/141 BC, the king died. While some ancient authors make Diodotus Tryphon responsible for the death of the king, list of Syrian monarchs Timeline of Syrian history Schürer, E. A History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ, antiochus VI entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
Antiochus VI Dionysus
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Coin of Antiochus VI Dionysus. British Museum.
Antiochus VI Dionysus
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Coin of Antiochus VI. The reverse shows Castor and Polydeuces on horseback. The Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ (king Antiochus). The date ΘΞΡ is 169 of the Seleucid era, corresponding to 144–143 BC.
36.
Diodotus Tryphon
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Originally from Casiana, a dependent town of the city of Apamea, he had served as a general for Alexander Balas and along with the Egyptian Heirax was given command of the city of Antioch. Demetrius on the hand held sway in the outer regions of the empire, including Cilicia. It was made easier for Jonathan to ally with Antiochus VI due to his association with his father Balas, in 142 or 141 BC Antiochus VI Dionysus died, supposedly during a medical operation, however accusations were made against Diodotus that he was himself behind the young king’s death. Despite this he convinced the army to elect him king, taking the titles of Basileus, as was tradition for Hellenistic kings, but also that of Autokrator. The term Autokrator is unique in the fact that it is not included on the coinage of any other Greek ruler from this period, as king he took the regal name of Tryphon. Having been made king Diodotus, Tryphon expanded his control to at least Ptolemais-Akke, to further legitimize his position and extend his connection to the army, many of his coins depicted on their obverse the national helmet of the Greco-Macedonian soldiery. Luring Jonathan to Ptolemais with a guard, Diodotus kidnapped him. He eventually had Jonathan executed and initiated an invasion of Judea, Demetrius, meanwhile, had journeyed east to combat the encroachment of the Parthians, but in 139 BC was captured and forced into captivity in Parthia. With the detested Demetrius gone, his brother, Antiochus VII Sidetes, left his home in Rhodes and married the wife of Demetrius, Cleopatra Thea, Tryphon’s support began to deteriorate with Antiochus now the leader of the Seleucid dynastic faction in the empire. Antiochus successfully pushed back Tryphon’s forces and besieged him in the fortress-city of Dor on the coast, Tryphon escaped by sea to Orthosia and made his way to his home-region of Apamea, where, being chased by Antiochus, he was either put to death or committed suicide
Diodotus Tryphon
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Coin of Diodotus Tryphon. British Museum.
Diodotus Tryphon
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Coin of Diodotus Tryphon.
37.
Antiochus VII Sidetes
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Antiochus VII Euergetes, nicknamed Sidetes, ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, reigned from 138 to 129 BC. He was the last Seleucid king of any stature, after Antiochus VII Sidetes was killed in battle, the Seleucid realm was restricted to Syria. He was one of the sons of Demetrius I Soter, the brother of Demetrius II Nicator and he married Cleopatra Thea, who had been the wife of Demetrius. Their offspring was Antiochus IX, who became both half-brother and cousin to Seleucus V and Antiochus VIII. Sidetes defeated the usurper Tryphon at Dora and laid siege to Jerusalem in 132, during the siege he allowed a seven-day truce for the Jews to celebrate a religious festival, impressing the Jewish leadership. According to Josephus the Hasmonean leader John Hyrcanus opened King Davids sepulchre, nevertheless, King Antiochus respectful treatment of the Jews, and respect for their religion, earned him their gratitude and added name, Euergetes. With no Jewish sources of that time it is if the siege of Jerusalem ended with a decisive Seleucid victory or simply a peace treaty. Furthermore, the fact is that Jewish forces later assisted Sidetes in his wars, all in all it indicates a renewal of the friendly relations from the time of Demetrius II. Antiochus spent the years of his life attempting to reclaim the lost eastern territories, overrun by the Parthians under their Great King. Marching east, with what would prove to be the last great Seleucid royal army and he restored Mesopotamia, Babylonia and Media to the Seleucid empire, before dispersing his army into winter quarters. The Seleucid king and army spent the winter feasting, hunting, as with any time an army is quartered upon a population, tensions soon grew between the locals and the Syrian troops. The new Parthian ruler, Phraates II, had not been idle, hoping to further sow dissension amongst his foes, Phraates also released his long-held prisoner, Demetrius II, Antiochus older brother, to return to Syria and reclaim the throne. That winter, several Median towns rose in rebellion and attacked their Seleucid garrisons, Antiochus marched to support one such isolated garrison with only a small force. In a barren valley, he was ambushed and killed by Phraates II and a force of Parthians. The last great Seleucid king died in battle, an end for the heir of Seleucus I Nicator. After Antiochus VII Sidetes, the Parthians regained the territory briefly lost, list of Syrian monarchs Timeline of Syrian history Antiochus VII Sidetes entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
Antiochus VII Sidetes
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Coin of Antiochus VII Sidetes. British Museum.
Antiochus VII Sidetes
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Coin of Antiochus VII, depicting the Dioscuri.
38.
Alexander II Zabinas
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Alexander II Zabinas, ruler of the Greek Seleucid kingdom, was a counter-king who emerged in the chaos following the Seleucidian loss of Mesopotamia to the Parthians. Zabinas was a false Seleucid who claimed to be a son of Antiochus VII Sidetes. Antioch, Apamea, and several cities, disgusted with the tyranny of Demetrius. Zabinas fled to the Seleucid capital Antiochia, where he plundered several temples and he is said to have joked about melting down a statuette of the goddess of victory Nike which was held in the hand of a Zeus statue, saying Zeus has given me Victory. Enraged by his impiety the Antiochenes cast Zabinas out of the city and he soon fell into the hands of robbers, who delivered him up to Antiochus, by whom he was put to death, in 122 BC. The name Zabinas means the slave, and was applied to him, deprecatingly. For reasons unknown, Alexander II was the only late Seleucid not to use epithets on his coins, several of his coins are extant. List of Syrian monarchs Timeline of Syrian history
Alexander II Zabinas
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Coin of Alexander II Zabinas; Zeus is represented on the reverse, holding in his right hand a small image of victory.
39.
Antiochus VIII Grypus
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Antiochus VIII Epiphanes/Callinicus/Philometor, nicknamed Grypus, was crowned as ruler of the Greek Seleucid kingdom in 125 BC. He was the son of Demetrius II Nicator and Cleopatra Thea, the child Antiochus Epiphanes, who is known from coins, was deposed—but not killed—when Demetrius II was restored in 129 BC. Antiochus Grypus was crowned as a teenager in 125 BC after his mother Cleopatra Thea had killed his elder brother Seleucus V Philometor, ruling jointly with her. After Antiochus defeated usurper Alexander II Zabinas in 123 BC his mother tried to poison him with wine, despite political shortcomings, Grypus was a popular king. His ugly, lazy appearance on coins, together with stories of his lavish banquets, made posterity believe his dynasty was degenerated and decadent. A story of his luxurious parties claims he sent food home with guests who attended banquets, complete with a camel as beast of burden and this should certainly have caused some strain on the already depleted treasury. He married the Ptolemaic princess Tryphaena, but in 116 BC his half-brother and cousin Antiochus IX Cyzicenus returned from exile and a civil war began. Cyzicenus wife, also named Cleopatra, was a sister of Tryphaena and was killed in a dramatic fashion in the temple of Daphne outside Antioch. Cyzicenus eventually killed Tryphaena as revenge, the two brothers then divided Syria between them until Grypus was killed by his minister Heracleon in 96 BC. Laodice and Mithridates son was King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene, list of Syrian monarchs Timeline of Syrian history Antiochus VIII Grypus entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
Antiochus VIII Grypus
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Coin of Antiochus VIII. The reverse shows Zeus enthroned, carrying Nike. The Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ (king Antiochus Epiphanes).
Antiochus VIII Grypus
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Coin of Antiochus VIII Grypus. Reverse: god Sandan standing on the horned lion, in his pyre surmounted by an eagle.
40.
Antiochus IX Cyzicenus
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Antiochus IX Eusebes Cyzicenus, ruler of the Greek Seleucid kingdom, was the son of Antiochus VII Sidetes and Cleopatra Thea. After the death of his mother Cleopatra Thea ca.118 BCE, Antiochus IX Cyzicenus challenged his half-brother, Antiochus VIII Grypus, for power of Syria. Antiochus IX Cyzicenus was first married to Cleopatra IV, who was killed in 112 BC by her sister and rival Syrian Queen Tryphaena. After the death of Grypus and capturing the capital, Antiochus IX Cyzicenus married Cleopatra Selene I and he was killed in battle by the son of Grypus, Seleucus VI Epiphanes in 96 BC. The epithets he took much of his story, Eusebes. After that, he ruled Antioch and its surroundings, fighting endlessly against the four brothers of Seleucus VI, the Nabataeans, list of Syrian monarchs Timeline of Syrian history Antiochus IX Cyzicenus entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
Antiochus IX Cyzicenus
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Coin of Antiochus IX. The reverse shows Athena bearing Nike. The Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ (king Antiochus Philopatros).
41.
Antiochus XII Dionysus
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Antiochus XII Dionysus, a ruler of the Greek Seleucid kingdom who reigned 87–84 BC. Antiochus XII was the son of Antiochus VIII Grypus and Tryphaena to take up the diadem. He succeeded his brother Demetrius III Eucaerus as separatist ruler of the parts of the last remaining Seleucid realms, basically Damascus. Antiochus initially gained support from Ptolemaic forces and was the last Seleucid ruler of any military reputation and he made several raids into the territories of the Jewish Hasmonean kings, and tried to check the rise of the Nabataean Arabs. The Battle of Cana against the latter turned out to be successful, until the young king was caught in a melee. Upon his death, the Syrian army fled and mostly perished in the desert, soon after, the Nabateans conquered Damascus. Antiochus titles - apart from Dionysos - mean respectively Manifest, Father-loving, the last Seleucid kings often used several epithets on their coins. List of Syrian monarchs Timeline of Syrian history Antiochus XII entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
Antiochus XII Dionysus
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Seleucid coin of Antiochus XII, with a cult statue of Hadad on its reverse.
42.
Antiochus XIII Asiaticus
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Antiochus XIII Philadelphus, known as Asiaticus was one of the last rulers of the Macedonian Seleucid kingdom. He was son of king Antiochus X Eusebes and the Ptolemaic princess Cleopatra Selene I, some time after Tigranes had conquered Syria, she traveled to Rome to have her sons recognized as kings of Egypt, but to no avail. They were there between at least between 75 BC and 73 BC, recognized as Kings of Syria, and maintained a royal state, in 64 BC, Pompey had him deposed and killed by a Syrian chieftain, Sampsiceramus I. Antiochus death is said to have ended the Seleucid dynasty
Antiochus XIII Asiaticus
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Coin of Antiochus XIII.
43.
Lysimachus
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Lysimachus was a Macedonian officer and diadochus of Alexander the Great, who became a basileus in 306 BC, ruling Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon. Lysimachus was born in 361 BC, to a family of Thessalian Greek stock and his father was a nobleman of high rank who was an intimate friend of Philip II of Macedon, who shared in Philip II’s councils and became a favourite in the Argead court. He was probably appointed Somatophylax during the reign of Philip II, during Alexanders Persian campaigns, in 328 BC he was one of his immediate bodyguards. In 324 BC, in Susa, he was crowned in recognition for his actions in India, after Alexander’s death in 323 BC, he was appointed to the government of Thrace as strategos although he faced some difficulties from the Thracian Dynasty Seuthes. However, he managed to consolidate his power in the east of his territories, in 309 BC, he founded Lysimachia in a commanding situation on the neck connecting the Chersonese with the mainland which formed a bulwark against the Odrysians. In 306/305 BC, Lysimachus followed the example of Antigonus I and assumed the royal title, which he held until his death at Corupedium in 281 BC. In 302 BC, when the alliance between Cassander, Ptolemy I and Seleucus I was made, Lysimachus, reinforced by troops from Cassander, entered Asia Minor. On the approach of Antigonus I he retired into winter quarters near Heraclea, marrying its widowed queen Amastris, Seleucus I joined him in 301 BC, and at the Battle of Ipsus Antigonus I was defeated and slain. Antigonus dominions were divided among the victors, Lysimachus share was Lydia, Ionia, Phrygia and the north coast of Asia Minor. Feeling that Seleucus I was becoming dangerously powerful, Lysimachus now allied himself with Ptolemy I, Amastris, who had divorced herself from him, returned to Heraclea. Demetrius I subsequently threatened Thrace, but had to due to a sudden uprising in Boeotia. In 287 BC, Lysimachus and Pyrrhus in turn invaded Macedonia, Lysimachus left Pyrrhus in possession of Macedonia with the title of king for around seven months before Lysimachus invaded. For a short while the two ruled jointly but in 285 BC Lysimachus expelled Pyrrhus, seizing complete control for himself, domestic troubles embittered the last years of Lysimachus’ life. Amastris had been murdered by her two sons, Lysimachus treacherously put them to death, on his return, Arsinoe II asked the gift of Heraclea, and he granted her request, though he had promised to free the city. This atrocious deed by Lysimachus aroused great indignation, many of the cities of Asia Minor revolted, and his most trusted friends deserted him. The widow of Agathocles and their children fled to Seleucus I, in 281 BC, Lysimachus crossed the Hellespont into Lydia and at the decisive Battle of Corupedium was killed. After some days his body was found on the field, protected birds of prey by his faithful dog. Lysimachus body was given over to another son Alexander, by whom it was interred at Lysimachia, Lysimachus was married three times and his wives were, First marriage, Nicaea a Greek noblewoman and daughter of the powerful Regent Antipater
Lysimachus
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Marble bust of Lysimachus. Naples, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (Archaeological Museum), Italy
Lysimachus
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Obverse of coin of Lysimachus: The horned Alexander appears as the king's divine patron.
Lysimachus
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Tetradrachm of Lysimachus. The Greek inscription reads: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ "[coin] of King Lysimachus".
44.
Eumenes I
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Eumenes I was dynast of the city of Pergamon in Asia Minor from 263 BC until his death in 241 BC. He was the son of Eumenes, the brother of Philetaerus, the founder of the Attalid dynasty, as he had no children, Philetaerus adopted Eumenes to become his heir. Although nominally under Seleucid control, Pergamon under Philetaerus enjoyed considerable autonomy and he was thus able to free Pergamon, and greatly increase the territories under his control. Demonstrating his independence, he began to strike coins with the portrait of Philetaerus, if Eumenes was able to keep Pergamon free from the ravages of the Gauls, it was probably because he paid them tribute. Although never assuming the title of king, Eumenes did exercise all of the powers of one, imitating other Hellenistic rulers, a festival in Eumenes honour, called Eumeneia, was instituted in Pergamon. It is not known whether he had children, a Philetaerus son of Eumenes is mentioned in an inscription in the town of Thespiae, some regard him as Eumenes son, who would then have died before his fathers death in 241. Eumenes adopted his cousin, Attalus I, who succeeded him as ruler of Pergamon. Ithaca, New York, Cornell University Press, London, Cornell University Press Ltd, kosmetatou, Elizabeth The Attalids of Pergamon, in Andrew Erskine, ed. A Companion to the Hellenistic World, text Livy, History of Rome, Rev. Canon Roberts, Ernest Rhys, London, J. M. Dent & Sons, pausanias, Description of Greece, Books I-II, translated by W. H. S. Jones, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, London, William Heinemann Ltd. Strabo, Geography, Books 13-14, translated by Horace Leonard Jones, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, London, William Heinemann, Ltd
Eumenes I
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Coin struck during the reign of Eumenes I, depicting the head of Eumenes' uncle Philetaerus on the obverse and seated Athena, patron deity of the city of Pergamon, on the reverse. The writing reads ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ (philetairou), "(coin) of Philetaerus ".
Eumenes I
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Coin of Eumenes. Cabinet des Médailles, Paris.
45.
Diodotus I
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Diodotus I Soter was Seleucid satrap of Bactria, rebelled against Seleucid rule soon after the death of Antiochus II in c.255 or 246 BC, and wrested independence for his territory. This event is recorded by Trogus, Prol,4,5, where he is called Theodotus, Strabo xi.515. The name apparently is related to the title Soter he uses for himself and his power seems to have extended over the neighbouring provinces. Diodotus was a contemporary, a neighbour, and probably an ally of Andragoras, the satrap of Parthia and their cities were Bactra, and Darapsa, and several others. Among these was Eucratidia, which was named after its ruler. The newly declared King married a daughter, born c.266 BC, of Antiochus II Theos, the Greco-Bactrians became cut from direct contacts with the Greek world. Overland trade continued at a rate, while sea trade between Greek Egypt and Bactria developed. When Seleucus II in 239 BC attempted to subjugate the rebels in the east, it appears he, of Diodotus I we possess gold, silver and bronze coins, some of which are struck in the name of Antiochos. Diodotus Soter appears also on coins struck in his memory by the later Graeco-Bactrian kings Agathocles, cf. AV Sallet, Die Nachfolger Alexanders d. Gr. in Baktrien und Indien, Percy Gardner, Catal. of the Coins of the Greek and Scythian Kings of Bactria and India
Diodotus I
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"Pedigree" coin of Agathocles, with the effigy of Diodotus, the Greek inscription reads: ΔΙΟΔΟΤΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ - "(of) Diodotus the Saviour".
Diodotus I
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Diodotus c. 250 BC.
Diodotus I
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Gold coin of Diodotus I c. 250 BC. The Greek inscription reads: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΙΟΔΟΤΟΥ - "(of) King Diodotus".
Diodotus I
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Gold stater of Diodotus in the name of the Seleucid emperor Antiochus I Soter, c. 250 BCE. Diodotus effectively declared his independence from Seleucid control by placing his own portrait on the obverse of the coin, and replacing Antiochos's preferred deity Apollo with the Zeus shown on this coin.
46.
Antimachus I
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Anthimachus I Theos was one of the Greco-Bactrian kings, generally dated from around 185 BC to 170 BC. Tarn and numismatist Robert Senior place Antimachus as a member of the Euthydemid dynasty and probably as a son of Euthydemus, other historians, like Narain, mark him as independent of Euthydemid authority, and probably a scion of some relation to the Diodotid dynasty. He was king of an area covering parts of Bactria and probably also Arachosia in southern Afghanistan, Antimachus I was either defeated during his resistance to the usurper Eucratides, or his main territory was absorbed by the latter upon his death. Apparently adding to the argument against direct Euthydemid familial connections, is a unique tax-receipt that states, In the reign of Antimachos Theos and Eumenes, the fourth year, month of Olous, in Asangorna, the guardian of the law being. The tax collector Menodotus, in the presence of, who was also sent out by Demonax, the former. By the agency of Diodorus, controller of revenues, acknowledges receipt from, the son of Dataes from the priests. The dues relating to the purchase, a tax receipt from Hellenistic Bactria. Eumenes and Antimachus could be his heirs, it was standard by Ptolemaic and Seleucid kings to include their sons as joint regents, while Eumenes never issued any coins, a king named Antimachus II Nikephoros later appeared in India. It seems plausible that the Indian Antimachus was identical with the son of Antimachus I, Antimachus I issued a numerous silver coinage on the Attic standard, with his own image in a flat Macedonian kausia hat, and on the reverse Poseidon with his trident. On his coinage, Antimachus called himself Theos, The God, just like his colleague Agathocles, he issued commemorative coinage, in his case silver tetradrachms honouring Euthydemus I, also called The God, and Diodotus I, called The Saviour. This indicates that Antimachus I might have been instrumental in creating a state cult. Antimachus I also issued round bronzes depicting an elephant on the obverse, the elephant could be a Buddhist symbol. These coins are reminiscent of those of Demetrius I, as well as Apollodotus I, other bronzes, square and rather crude, also portray a walking elephant, but with a reverse of a thunderbolt. These have been attributed by Bopearachchi to Arachosia and they are Indian in their design, but the legend is only in Greek. The Greek in Bactria and India, W. W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press The Decline of the Indo-Greeks, Senior and D. MacDonald, Hellenistic Numismatic Society The Indo-Greeks, A. K. Narain, B. R. Publications Coins of Antimachus More coins of Antimachus
Antimachus I
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Coin of Antimachus I. British Museum.
Antimachus I
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The tax receipt, Oxford, Ashmolean Museum.
Antimachus I
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Silver coin of Antimachus I (171–160 BC). Obv: Bust of Antimachus I. Rev: Depiction of Poseidon, with Greek legend BASILEOS THEOU ANTIMACHOU "of God-King Antimachus".
Antimachus I
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Coin of Antimachus, Cabinet des Médailles, Paris.
47.
Pantaleon
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Pantaleon was a Greek king who reigned some time between 190–180 BCE in Bactria and India. He was a contemporary or successor of the Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius. The limited size of his coinage indicates a short reign, known evidence suggests that he was replaced by his brother or son Agathocles, by whom he was commemorated on a pedigree coin. This suggests that exchanges of the alloy or technicians happened between China and the region of Bactria. Coins of Pantaleon Catalogue of coins of Pantaleon
Pantaleon
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King Pantaleon in profile, with Zeus on the reverse.
Pantaleon
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Cupro-nickel coin of king Pantaleon. Obv: Bust of Dionysos with a wreath of leaves. Rev: Panther with a small bell around the neck, touching a vine with the left leg. Greek legend: BASILEOS PANTALEONTOS "Of King Pantaleon".
48.
Heliocles I
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Heliocles was a Greco-Bactrian king, relative and successor of Eucratides the Great, and probably the last Greek king to reign over the Bactrian country. His reign was a one, according to Roman historian Justin, Eucratides was murdered by his son and co-ruler. The patricide might have led to instability, even civil war, from 130 BCE a nomadic people, the Yuezhi, started to invade Bactria from the north and we could assume that Heliocles was killed in battle during this invasion. Details from Chinese sources seem to indicate that the invasion did not end civilisation in Bactria entirely. Hellenised cities continued to exist for some time, and the agricultural systems were not demolished. The Yuezhi would copy and adapt the coin types of Heliokles for a long time, even if this was the end of the original Greco-Bactrian kingdom, the Greeks continued to rule in northwestern India to the end of the 1st century BCE, under the Indo-Greek Kingdom. It is unclear whether the dynasty of Eucratides was extinguished with the death of Heliocles I or if members of the family emigrated eastwards, several later Indo-Greek king, including Heliocles II, struck coins which could be associated with the dynasty. Coins of Heliocles More coins of Heliocles Catalogue of the Coins of Heliocles I and Scythian Imitations
Heliocles I
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Silver coin of Heliocles (145–130 BCE) Obv: Bust of Heliocles Rev: Zeus standing, with thunderbolt and sceptre. Greek legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ ΗΛΙΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ (BASILEOS DIKAIOU HELIOKLEOUS) "Of King Heliocles the Just".
49.
Indo-Greek Kingdom
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The kingdom was founded when the Graeco-Bactrian king Demetrius invaded the subcontinent early in the 2nd century BC. The Greeks in South Asia were eventually divided from the Graeco-Bactrians centered in Bactria, but the Greeks failed to establish united rule in present-day north-western South Asia. The most famous Indo-Greek ruler was Menander and he had his capital at Sakala in the Punjab. The expression Indo-Greek Kingdom loosely describes a number of various polities, traditionally associated with a number of regional capitals like Taxila, Pushkalavati. Euthydemus I was, according to Polybius a Magnesian Greek and his son, Demetrius, founder of the Indo-Greek kingdom, was therefore of Greek descent from his father at minimum. A marriage treaty was arranged for Demetrius with a daughter of Antiochus III the Great, the ethnicity of later Indo-Greek rulers is less clear. The diffusion of Indo-Greek culture had consequences which are still felt today, after 321 BC Eudemus toppled Taxiles, until he left India in 316 BC. To the south, another general also ruled over the Greek colonies of the Indus, Peithon, son of Agenor, in 305 BC, Seleucus I led an army to the Indus, where he encountered Chandragupta. The confrontation ended with a treaty, and an intermarriage agreement. But Seleucus Nicator gave them to Sandrocottus in consequence of a marriage contract, also several Greeks, such as the historian Megasthenes, followed by Deimachus and Dionysius, were sent to reside at the Mauryan court. Presents continued to be exchanged between the two rulers, on these occasions, Greek populations apparently remained in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent under Mauryan rule. It is also thought that Greeks contributed to the work of the Pillars of Ashoka. 1 That is the Caucasus Indicus or Paropamisus, mod, Alexander had also established several colonies in neighbouring Bactria, such as Alexandria on the Oxus and Alexandria of the Caucasus. After Alexanders death in 323 BC, Bactria came under the control of Seleucus I Nicator, the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom was founded when Diodotus I, the satrap of Bactria seceded from the Seleucid Empire around 250 BC. The preserved ancient sources are contradictory and the exact date of Bactrian independence has not been settled. Somewhat simplified, there is a chronology and a low chronology for Diodotos’ secession. The high chronology has the advantage of explaining why the Seleucid king Antiochus II issued very few coins in Bactria, as Diodotos would have become independent there early in Antiochus reign. On the other hand, the low chronology, from the mid-240s BC, has the advantage of connecting the secession of Diodotus I with the Third Syrian War, a catastrophic conflict for the Seleucid Empire
Indo-Greek Kingdom
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Indo-Greek Kingdoms in 100 BC.
Indo-Greek Kingdom
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Apollodotus I (180–160 BC) the first king who ruled in the subcontinent only, and therefore the founder of the proper Indo-Greek kingdom.
Indo-Greek Kingdom
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Bilingual edict (Greek and Aramaic) by king Ashoka, from Kandahar. Kabul Museum (click image for translation).
50.
Menander I
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Menander I Soter was an Indo-Greek King of the Indo-Greek Kingdom who established a large empire in Northwestern regions of South Asia and became a patron of Buddhism. Menander was initially a king of Bactria, large numbers of Menander’s coins have been unearthed, attesting to both the flourishing commerce and duration of his realm. Menander was also a patron of Buddhism, and his conversations with the Buddhist sage Nagasena are recorded in the important Buddhist work, after his death in 130 BC, he was succeeded by his wife Agathokleia who ruled as regent for his son Strato I. Menander was born to a Greek family in a village called Kalasi adjacent to Alexandria of the Caucasus and his territories covered the eastern dominions of the divided Greek empire of Bactria and extended to India. His capital is supposed to have been Sagala, a city in northern Punjab. He subsequently travelled across northern India and visited the Maurayan capital of Patna, any plans of conquering the capital were put aside as Eucratides I king of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom began warring with the Indo-Greeks in the north-western frontier. In short, Apollodorus says that Bactriana is the ornament of Ariana as a whole, and, more than that, they extended their empire even as far as the Seres, the thick mud-fortifications at Pataliputra being reached, all the provinces will be in disorder, without doubt. Ultimately, a battle will follow, with tree-like engines. The Milinda Panha gives some glimpses of his methods, His reign was long. Generous findings of coins testify to the prosperity and extension of his empire, the finds of his coins are the most numerous, precise dates of his reign, as well as his origin, remain elusive however. Menanders predecessor in Punjab seems to have been the king Apollodotus I, Menanders empire survived him in a fragmented manner until the last Greek king Strato II disappeared around 10 AD. Menander was the first Indo-Greek ruler to introduce the representation of Athena Alkidemos on his coins, probably in reference to a statue of Athena Alkidemos in Pella. This type was used by most of the later Indo-Greek kings. According to tradition, Menander embraced the Buddhist faith, as described in the Milinda Panha and he is described as constantly accompanied by a guard of 500 Greek soldiers, and two of his counsellors are named Demetrius and Antiochus. As a disputant he was hard to equal, harder still to overcome, and as in wisdom so in strength of body, swiftness, and valour there was found none equal to Milinda in all India. He was rich too, mighty in wealth and prosperity, there is however little besides this testament to indicate that Menander in fact abdicated his throne in favour of his son. Based on numismatic evidence, Sir William Tarn believes that he in fact died, leaving his wife Agathocleia to rule as a regent, until his son Strato could rule properly in his stead. Despite the success of his reign, it is clear that after his death, his loosely hung empire splintered into a variety of Indo-Greek successor kingdoms, of various size, in his right hand, he holds a branch of ivy, symbol of Dionysos
Menander I
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Silver coin of Menander Greek legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΜΕΝΑΝΔΡΟΥ (BASILEOS SOTEROS MENANDROU) lit. "Of Saviour King Menander". British Museum.
Menander I
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Indo-Greek Kingdoms in 100 BC.
Menander I
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2. Silver drachm of Menander I (155-130 BC). Obv: Greek legend, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΜΕΝΑΝΔΡΟΥ (BASILEOS SOTEROS MENANDROU) lit. "Of Saviour King Menander". Rev: Kharosthi legend: MAHARAJASA TRATARASA MENAMDRASA "Saviour King Menander". Athena advancing right, with thunderbolt and shield. Taxila mint mark.
Menander I
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King Milinda asks questions.
51.
Agathokleia
–
For the 3rd century BC mistress of Ptolemy IV Philopator, see Agathoclea. Agathokleia Theotropos was an Indo-Greek queen who ruled in parts of northern India in the 2nd-century BC as regent for her son Strato I, the traditional view, introduced by Tarn and defended as late as 1998 by Bopearachchi, is that Agathokleia was the widow of Menander I. In the civil wars after Menanders death, the Indo-Greek empire was divided, with Agathokleia and her young son Strato maintaining themselves in the territories of Gandhara. The modern view, embraced by R. C, senior and probably more solid since it is founded on numismatical analyses, suggests that Agathokleia was a later queen, perhaps ruling from 110 BC–100 BC or slightly later. In this case, Agathokleia was likely the widow of another king, in either case, Agathokleia was among the first women to rule a Hellenistic Kingdom, in the period following the reign of Alexander the Great. Some of her subjects may have been reluctant to accept an infant king with a regent, unlike the Seleucid and Ptolemaic Kingdoms. This was probably because the kings were required to command armies, as can be seen on their coins where they are depicted with helmets. Agathokleia seems to have associated herself with Athena, the goddess of war, the coins of Agathokleia and Strato were all bilingual, and Agathokleias name appears more often in the Greek legend than in the Indian. Most of Agathokleias coins were struck jointly with her son Strato, though on their first issues, the Greeks in Bactria and India
Agathokleia
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Coin of Agathokleia. Obv: Queen Agathokleia in profile. Rev:: Greek straight bow and arrow container.
Agathokleia
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Coin of Strato I and Agathokleia. Obv: Conjugate busts of Strato and Agathokleia. Greek legend: BASILEOS SOTEROS STRATONOS KAI AGATOKLEIAS "Of Saviour King Strato, and Agathokleia". Rev: Athena throwing thunderbolt. Kharoshthi legend: MAHARAJASA TRATASARA DHARMIKASA STRATASA "King Strato, Saviour and Just (="of the Dharma")".
52.
Heliokles II
–
Heliocles II Dikaios is thought to have been one of the later Indo-Greek kings and a relative of the Bactrian king Heliocles I. Senior seem to agree that he ruled ca 95–80 BCE, Heliocles II seems to have been engaged in a series of wars with Strato I in Gandhara and Punjab, the two share several mintmarks and Heliocles II overstruck many of his coins. During this period, a number of kings fought for hegemony in the Indo-Greek territories, some of them were likely supported by nomad Saka rulers such as Maues. Heliocles II used a reverse of standing Zeus, who was a common deity among the later Indo-Greek kings, J. Jakobsson sees Heliocles as the son of the important king Antialcidas Nikephoros and perhaps the grandson of Heliocles I. He goes on to suggest that Heliocles was the brother of the king Archebius Nikephoros Dikaios. Archebius uses a similar reverse and combines the epithets of Heliocles II and Antialcidas, in addition, their coin portraits are similar, with hooked noses. Senior has instead suggested a connection with Demetrius III, who used a reverse of standing Zeus. Heliocles II issued Indian silver with portrait / standing Zeus and bronzes with bearded diademed portrait / elephant and it is uncertain whether he struck Attic coins. A number of coins for Heliocles I have been found in Bactria, possibly some of these may have been struck by Heliocles II. The existence of numerous overstrikes helps locate the reign of Heliokles II in relation to other Indo-Greek kings, Heliokles overstruck coins of Agathokleia, Strato I, and Hermaeus. Conversely, Amyntas overstruck coins of Heliokles II, the Greeks in Bactria and India. The Coin Types of the Indo-Greek Kings, 256-54 B. C, de lIndus à lOxus, Archéologie de lAsie Centrale
Heliokles II
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Bronze coin of Heliocles II Obv: Bust of diademed king. Greek legend: BASILEOS DIKAIOU HELIOKLEOUS "Of King Heliocles the Just" Rev: Kharoshti (Indian) translation, elephant holding victory wreath.
53.
Polyxenos Epiphanes Soter
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Polyxenos Epiphanes Soter was an Indo-Greek king who ruled briefly in western Punjab or Gandhara. Bopearachchi places Polyxenos c.100 BCE and R. C, Polyxenos, whose portraits depict a diademed young man, struck silver coins which closely resemble those of Strato I. Both kings used the epithets Soter Epiphanes and the reverse of Athena Alkidemos, Polyxenos also struck bronzes with Athena on the obverse and her aegis on the reverse. His bronzes depict the head of Athena with a reverse of her aegis, Polyxenos coins are few and feature only three monograms, these he shares with Straton I as well as the kings Heliokles II and Archebios, according to Bopearachchi and RC Senior. He was therefore likely to have been a contestant for power in the central Indo-Greek kingdom after the presumably violent death of Straton I. Osmund Bopearachchi, Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, American Numismatic Society, part 9, Graeco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek Coins,1998, American Numismatic Society, ISBN 0-89722-273-3
Polyxenos Epiphanes Soter
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Coin of Polyxenus.
Polyxenos Epiphanes Soter
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Coin of Polyxenos.
54.
Philoxenus Anicetus
–
Philoxenus Anicetus was an Indo-Greek king who ruled in the region spanning the Paropamisade to Punjab. Philoxenus seems to have quite an important king who might briefly have ruled most of the Indo-Greek territory. Historians have not yet connected Philoxenus with any dynasty, but he could have been the father of the princess Kalliope, whether the horseman was a dynastic emblem or a portrait of the king as a cavalleryman is unclear. Several Saka kings used similar horsemen on their coinage and his drachms were square, another feature that was rare among Indo-Greeks but standard for Sakas, and this indicates that Philoxenus had connections with the nomads that had conquered Bactria. Philoxenus struck bronzes with female deity/bull, or Helios/Nike, Philoxenus also minted some Attic-type tetradrachms, meant for circulation in Bactria. One overstrike is known, of Epander over Philoxenus, greco-Bactrian Kingdom Seleucid Empire Greco-Buddhism Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthian Kingdom Kushan Empire The Greeks in Bactria and India, W. W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press
Philoxenus Anicetus
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Silver tetradrachm of king Philoxenus. Obv: Helmetted, diademed and draped bust of Philoxenus. Greek legend BASILEOS ANIKETOU PHILOXENOU "Of the Invincible King Philoxenus" Rev: King on prancing horse in military dress. Kharoshti legend MAHARAJASA APADIHATASA PHILASINASA "Undefeatable King Philoxenus".
Philoxenus Anicetus
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Coin of Philoxenus, making a blessing gesture with his right hand. Kharoshti legend MAHARAJASA APADIHATASA PHILASINASA "Invincible King Philoxenus". British Museum.
Philoxenus Anicetus
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Philoxenus on horse.
Philoxenus Anicetus
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Philoxenus coin in the Indian square standard. Japan Currency Museum.
55.
Amyntas Nikator
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Amyntas Nikator was an Indo-Greek king. His coins have found both in eastern Punjab and Afghanistan, indicating that he ruled a considerable territory. 95–90 BCE, whereas Senior places him c, Amyntas struck bilingual silver coins with a variety of portraits. Some of his coins feature the reverse of fighting Athena typical for Menanders descendants, the epithet Nikator was previously only used on the Bactrian coins of Agathocles, a century before Amyntas reign. His bronzes feature the syncretic deity Zeus-Mithra wearing a cap and Athena standing at rest. Amyntas also minted some spectacular Attic coins, the largest silver coins of Antiquity, double-decadrachms and these huge coins were found on the archeological site of Qunduz in Afghanistan. Some of these coins use his ordinary Zeus reverse, but some of them used Tyche in an identical position, Amyntas is known to have overstruck coins of Heliokles II. Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Seleucid Empire Greco-Buddhism Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthian Kingdom Kushan Empire ^ Bopearachchi, De lIndus à lOxus, p129 Tarn, the Greeks in Bactria and India. The Coin Types of the Indo-Greek Kings, 256-54 B. C, De lIndus à lOxus, Archéologie de lAsie Centrale
Amyntas Nikator
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Coin of Amyntas Nikator. Obv: Bust of king. Rev: Seated Zeus.
56.
Epander
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Epander was one of the Indo-Greek kings. He may have been a relative of Menander I, and the findplaces of his coins seem to indicate that he ruled in the area of Punjab, the scarcity of his coins indicate that his reign was short and/or his territory limited. Epanders silver drachms portray the king in diadem with a reverse of Athena fighting which was the type of Menander I, epander probably claimed ancestry from this important king, but his epithet Nikephoros was unique to kings using this reverse, their title was usually Soter. Epander overstruck coins of Strato I and Philoxenus, greco-Bactrian Kingdom Seleucid Empire Greco-Buddhism Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthian Kingdom Kushan Empire Le Roi Indo-Grec Epandre The Greeks in Bactria and India, W. W
Epander
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Coin of Epander.
57.
Menander II
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Menander II Dikaios was an Indo-Greek King who ruled in the areas of Arachosia and Gandhara in the north of modern Pakistan. Bopearachchi has suggested that Menander II reigned c, senior has suggested c.65 BCE. In that case, Menander II ruled remaining Indo-Greek territories in Gandhara after the invasion of Maues, Menander II Dikaios may have belonged to the dynasty of Menander I Soter, the greatest of the Indo-Greek kings. Senior links Menander II with the Indo-Greek king Amyntas, with whom he shares several monograms and also features such as a pointed nose. He also suggests a relation to the semi-Scythian king Artemidorus, son of Maues. There is a possibility that Menander II, rather than Menander I, is actually the Buddhist Greek king referred to in the Milinda Panha. This point is unsolved however, since Greek sources relate that the great conqueror Menander I is the one who received the honour of burial in what could be interpreted as Buddhist stupas. The coins of Menander II bear the mention Menander the Just, Menander II struck only Indian silver. His bronzes feature Athena standing, with spear and palm-branch, shield at her feet, making a gesture with the right hand. Other varieties feature a king performing the same gesture, on the reverse is a lion, symbol of Buddhism, as also seen on the pillars of the Mauryan King Ashoka. In general, the coins of Menander II are quite few, a contemporary king to represent the Buddhist lion on his coins is the Indo-Scythian king Maues, around 85 BCE. Comparative studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies by Thomas McEvilley ISBN 1-58115-203-5 Buddhism in Central Asia by B. N, puri ISBN 81-208-0372-8 The Greeks in Bactria and India, W. W. Coin India gallery Coins of Menander II Le roi Ménandre II
Menander II
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Coin of Menander II. Obv: Menander wearing a diadem. Greek legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ ΜΕΝΑΝΔΡΟΥ (BASILEOS DIKAIOU MENANDROU) "Of King Menander the Just". Rev: Winged figure bearing wreath and palm, probably Nike. The Kharoshthi legend reads MAHARAJASA DHARMIKASA MENADRASA (Menander, King of the Dharma).
Menander II
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Indo-Greek officer (on a coin of Menander II), circa 90 BCE. He is equipped with a cuirass, lamellar armour for the thighs, and leg protections (cnemids).
58.
Hermaeus
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95–80 BCE but concedes that Bopearachchis later date could be correct. Hermaeus seems to have been successor of Philoxenus or Diomedes, according to Bopearachchi, these nomads were the Yuezhi, the ancestors of the Kushans, whereas Senior considers them Sakas. Following his reign, it is considered that Greek communities remained under the rule of these Hellenized nomads. Some parts of his kingdom may have taken over by later kings. The coinage of Hermaeus was copied widely, in increasingly barbarized form by the new nomad rulers down to around 40 CE, in any case, the Yuezhi-Kushan preserved a close cultural interaction with the Greeks as late as the 3rd century CE. Given the importance of Hermaeus to the rulers, it is possible that Hermaeus himself was partially of nomad origin. Hermaeus issued Indian silver coins of three types, the first type has diademed or sometimes helmeted portrait, with reverse of sitting Zeus making benediction gesture. Hermaeus also issued a series of Attic silver tetradrachms of this type. The second type was a joint series of Hermaeus with his queen Kalliope, the reverse departs from the traditional Hermaeus format, in that it shows the king on a prancing horse. The horseman on Hermaeus version is portrayed somewhat different, being equipped with a typic Scythian longbow. The third series combined the reverses of the first series, without portrait, Hermaeus also issued bronze coins with head of Zeus-Mithras and a prancing horse on the reverse. A Chinese historical record from the Hanshu Chap, 96A could possible be related to Hermaeus, even though this is very speculative and the record more likely refers to later Saka kings. The Chinese records would put Hermaeuss dates later, with his reign ending around 40 BCE, 96A, Wutoulao, king of Jibin, killed some Chinese envoys. After the death of the king, his son sent an envoy to China with gifts, the Chinese general Wen Zhong, commander of the border area in western Gansu, accompanied the escort back. Wutoulaos son plotted to kill Wen Zhong, when Wen Zhong discovered the plot, he allied himself with Yinmofu, son of the king of Rongqu. They attacked Jibin and killed Wutoulaos son, Yinmofu was then installed as king of Jibin, as a vassal of the Chinese Empire, and receiving the Chinese seal and ribbon of investiture. Later Yinmofu himself is recorded to have killed Chinese envoys in the reign of Emperor Yuandi, then sent envoys to apologize to the Chinese court, during the reign of Emperor Chengdi other envoys were sent, but they were rejected as simple traders. Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Seleucid Empire Greco-Buddhism Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthian Kingdom Kushan Empire The Greeks in Bactria and India, W. W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press
Hermaeus
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Coin of Hermaeus. Greek legend: BASILEOS SOTĒROS HERMAIOU "Of the Saviour King Hermaeus". British Museum.
Hermaeus
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Another coin of Hermaeus and Calliope.
Hermaeus
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Early posthumous coin (70–50 BCE)
59.
Apollodotus II
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Apollodotus II was an Indo-Greek king who ruled in the western and eastern parts of Punjab. Apollodotos II was an important ruler who seems to have re-established the Indo-Greek kingdom to some extent of its former glory, Taxila in western Punjab was reconquered from nomad Scythian rule, and according to Bopearachchi, eastern territory was taken back from Indian kingdoms. Apollodotus II seems to have been a member of the dynasty of Menander I, since he used their typical deity Athena Alkidemos on most of his silver, on some coins, he also calls himself Philopator, which proves that his father had been king before him. R C Senior guesses that Amyntas or Epander could have been his father, Apollodotus reign possibly began in the Punjab, when the Scythian king Maues ruled in Gandhara and its capital Taxila. The late Indo-Greeks may have been mixed with both Indians and Scythians. R C Senior suggests that Apollodotus had struck an alliance with another Scythian king, Azes I. The Scythian hold of Gandhara loosened after the death of Maues and these kings posed no threat to Apollodotus II, who on some of his coins assumed the title Basileus Megas, in echo of Maues boastful title Great King of Kings. After the death of Apollodotus II, the Indo-Greek kingdom fragmented once more, Apollodotus II issued a large number of coins. He struck bronzes with Apollo/tripod, an introduced by his namesake Apollodotus I. The coins of Apollodotus II are of different qualities, some still have the realistic portraits characteristic of the earlier Indo-Greek coins, and Bopearachchi attributes these series to the western part of his kingdom. On some of his coins there are both extra monograms in shape of Kharosthi letters and these monograms are interpreted, which was suggested already by W. W. Tarn, to have belonged to officials with Indian names, the coins therefore indicate that Apollodotus II relied more on his Indian subjects than earlier kings, and also opened new mints in eastern Punjab where Greek presence was scarce. Apollodotus II overstruck a bronze of Maues, zoilos II overstruck some of the coins of Apollodotus II, as did Azes I. Comparative studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies by Thomas McEvilley ISBN 1-58115-203-5 The Greeks in Bactria and India, coins of Apollodotus II More coins of Apollodotus II
Apollodotus II
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Indo-Greek king Apollodotus II (80–65 BC). Obv.: Bust of king Apollodotus II. Greek legend ΑΠΟΛΛΟΔΟΤΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ "Of Apollodotus the Great, Saviour & Fatherloving King". Rev.: Athena Alkidemos standing left, thunderbolt in raised right hand, holding out aegis with left arm. Legend in Kharoshthi script Tratarasa Maharajasa Apalatasa "Saviour King Appolodotus".
Apollodotus II
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Indo-Greek king Apollodotus II (80-65 BC). Obv.: Greek legend reads ΑΠΟΛΛΟΔΟΤΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ, "of Apollodotus King Great Saviour and Fatherloving". Rev.: Legend in Kharoshthi script Tratarasa Maharajasa Apalatasa "Saviour King Appolodotus", with goddess Athena (type of Menander I).
60.
Hippostratos
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Hippostratos was an Indo-Greek king who ruled central and north-western Punjab and Pushkalavati. Bopearachchi dates Hippostratos to 65 to 55 BCE whereas R. C, senior suggests 60 to 50 BCE. In Bopearachchis reconstruction Hippostratos came to power as the successor to Apollodotus II, in the part of his kingdom. Senior assumes that the reigns of Apollodotus II and Hippostratos overlapped somewhat, just like Apollodotus II, Hippostratos calls himself Soter, Saviour, on all his coins, and on some coins he also assumes the title Basileos Megas, Great King, which he inherited from Apollodotus II. This may support Seniors scenario that Hippostratos extended his kingdom after Apollodotus death, the relationship between these two kings remains uncertain due to lack of sources. Hippostratos did however not use the symbol of standing Athena Alkidemos, the two kings share only one monogram. The quantity and quality of the coinage of Hippostratos indicate a powerful king. Hippostratos seems to have fought rather successfully against the Indo-Scythian invaders, led by the Scythian king Azes I, Hippostratos issued silver coins with a diademed portrait on the obverse, and three reverses. The first is the image of a king on prancing horse, the second reverse also portrays a king on horseback, but the horse is walking and the king making a benediction gesture - this type resembles a rare type of Apollodotus II. The third is a goddess, perhaps Tyche. Hippostratos struck several bronzes of types used by kings, Serpent-legged deity / standing goddess. Apollo/tripod Sitting Zeus-Mithras / horse, reminiscent of coins of Hermaeus, Azes I overstruck several of Hippostratos coins. Indo-Greek Kingdom Greco-Buddhism Indo-Scythians The Greeks in Bactria and India, W. W, tarn, Cambridge University Press Main coins of Hippostratos
Hippostratos
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Tetradrachm of Hippostratos. Obv: Bust of Hippostratos with Greek legend BASILEOS MEGALOU SOTEROS / HIPPOSTRATOU "Of Great Saviour King Hippostratos". Rev: King on horseback, galloping. Kharoshthi legend: MAHARAJASA TRATASA MAHATASA JAYAMTASA HIPUSTRATASA "King Hippostratos, the Great Saviour and Conqueror.
61.
Zoilos II
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Zoilos II Soter was an Indo-Greek king who ruled in eastern Punjab. Bopearachchi dates his reign to c, 55–35 BCE, a date approximately supported by R. C. The name is often Latinized as Zoilus and it is possible that some of his coins were issued by a separate king, Zoilos III. He seems to have one of the rulers who succeeded the last important Indo-Greek king Apollodotus II the Great in the eastern parts of his former kingdom. All these kings use the symbol as Apollodotus II, the fighting Pallas Athene introduced by Menander I. The portraits attributed to Zoilos II could be divided into two groups, one depicting a man with hollow cheeks, the other a seemingly younger man with a fringe. This mint-mark however was never used by the balding Zoilos II, the Indo-Scythian king Bhadayasa also copied coins of the Zoilos II, or the hypothetical Zoilos III, only mentioning his own name on the Kharoshthi legend of his coins. Many of the monograms on the coins of Zoilos II are in Kharoshti and this is a characteristic of several of the Indo-Greek kings of the eastern Punjab, such as Strato I, Apollodotus II, and sometimes Apollophanes and Dionysios. Furthermore, the monogram is often identical on their coins, indicating that the moneyer, the coins of Zoilos II combine Greek monograms with Kharoshthi ones, indicating that some of the celators may have been native Indians. The Kharoshthi monograms are the letters for, sti, ji, ra, ga, gri, ha, stri, ri, bu, a, di, stra, and śi. The Apollo and tripod and Elephant and tripod types only have Kharoshthi monograms, while the portrait types usually have combinations of Greek, the monogram 62 has been shown to be the last Indo-Greek monogram, and only appears on the younger portraits that may be belong to Zoilus III. The coins of Zoilos II have been found in the Sutlej and Sialkot II hoards, also,25 coins of Zoilos II were found under the foundations of a 1st century BCE rectangular chapel in the monastery of Dharmarajika, near Taxila. Two coins of Zoilos II were also found in the Bara hoard near Peshawar, together with coins of the Indo-Scythian kings Azes I, a coin of Zoilus II was overstruck on a coin of Apollodotus II. Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Seleucid Empire Greco-Buddhism Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthian Kingdom Kushan Empire The Greeks in Bactria and India, W. W. Tarn, Cambridge University Press
Zoilos II
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Coin of king Zoilos II (55–35 BCE). Obv: Bust of Zoilos II with Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΖΩΙΛΟΥ (BASILEOS SOTEROS ZOILOU) "Of King Zoilos the Saviour". Rev: Athena advancing left, with thunderbolt and shield covered with aegis (type of Menander I). Kharosthi legend: MAHARAJASA TRATARASA JHOILASA "King Zoilos the Saviour".
Zoilos II
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Coin of Zoilos II.
Zoilos II
62.
Apollophanes
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Apollophanes Soter was an Indo-Greek king in the area of eastern and central Punjab in modern India and Pakistan. Little is known about him, except for some of his remaining coins, the dating is Osmund Bopearachchis, but R. C. Senior suggests approximately the same dates, earlier scholars, such as Professor Ahmed Hasan Dani, W. W. He may have been a relative of Apollodotus II Soter since both share the epithet Soter, have names related to Apollo and use Pallas Athene as their reverse. Apollophanes issued a few debased silver drachms of the type seen above, struck with a single monogram and he seems to have been an insignificant local ruler. Apollophanes wears what appears to be a Macedonian helmet of the type seen on the Alexander Mosaic which he was the last Indo-Greek ruler to use, apollophanes used exclusively a single boxy mint-mark, which he had in coming with late Indo-Greek kings. Greco-Bactrian Kingdom Seleucid Empire Greco-Buddhism Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthian Kingdom Kushan Empire The Greeks in Bactria and India, the Bactrian and Indus Greeks, Ahmed Hasan Dani, Lahore Museum The Indo-Greeks - Revisited and Supplemented, A. K. Narain, BR Publishing Corporation Monnaies Gréco-Bactriennes et Indo-Grecques, Osmund Bopearachchi, Bibliothèque Nationale de France
Apollophanes
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Silver drachm of king Apollophanes (r. 35-25 BCE). Obv: Helmeted bust of king. Greek legend: BASILEOS SOTEROS APOLLOPHANOU "Of Saviour King Apollophanes". Rev: Pallas with aegis and thunderbolt. Kharoshthi legend: MAHARAJASA TRATARASA APALAVINASA "Saviour king Apollophanes".
63.
Mithridates III of Pontus
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Mithridates III was the fourth King of Pontus, son of Mithridates II of Pontus and Laodice. Mithridates had two sisters who were Laodice III the first wife of the Seleucid King Antiochus III the Great and he may have ruled in an uncertain period between 220 BC and 183 BC. Nothing is known of him since the years just cited, because the kingdom of Pontus disappears from history, Mithridates married an obscure Seleucid Princess called Laodice. By his wife, he had three children, Mithridates IV of Pontus, Pharnaces I of Pontus and Laodice, whos Who in the Greek World
Mithridates III of Pontus
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Tetradrachm di Mithridates III of Pontus
64.
Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
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Antiochus I Theos Dikaios Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellen was an Armenian king from the Kingdom of Commagene and the most famous king of that kingdom. The ruins of the tomb-sanctuary of Antiochus atop Mount Nemrut in Turkey were named to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1987, several sandstone bas reliefs discovered at the site contain some of the oldest known images of two figures shaking hands. Antiochus I was the son and probably the child of King Mithridates I Callinicus. Antiochus was half Armenian, a distant member of the Orontid Dynasty, antiochus’ father Mithridates was the son of King of Commagene Sames II Theosebes Dikaios and an unidentified woman. More certain are his dynastic connections to the Diadochi, antiochus’ mother, Laodice VII Thea, was a Greek princess of the Seleucid Empire. Laodice’s father was the Seleucid King Antiochus VIII Grypus, while her mother was a Ptolemaic princess and these five men, the Diadochi successors, had served as generals under Macedonian King, Alexander the Great. Antiochus’ parents had married as part of an alliance between their kingdoms. Little is known of his life and education, aside from its philhellenic aspect, however, it seems that when his father died in 70 BC. Antiochus married Princess Isias Philostorgos of Cappadocia, daughter of King Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia, Antiochus is first mentioned in the ancient sources in 69 BC, when Lucullus campaigned against the Armenian King Tigranes the Great. Antiochus made peace with the general Pompey in 64 BC, when Pompey successfully invaded Syria, Antiochus and Pompey then became allies. Antiochus in 59 BC was granted the toga praetexta and given official recognition from the Roman Senate as an ally to Rome, Antiochus received an ivory sceptre and an embroidered triumphal robe, and he was greeted as king, ally and friend. This recognition was a way of recognising and rewarding the allies to Rome. From his reign onwards, monarchs from Commagene proved to be the most loyal Roman allies, when Marcus Tullius Cicero was Roman governor of Cilicia in 51 BC, Antiochus provided Cicero with intelligence of the movements of the Parthians. During the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey, Antiochus provided troops for Pompey, in 38 BC, a legate of Triumvir Mark Antony, Publius Ventidius Bassus, after campaigning against the Parthians, wanted to attack Antiochus and his kingdom. Antony and Bassus were attracted by Commagenes wealth, yet as they were preparing to march against Commagene and its capital Samosata, Antiochus negotiated a peaceful settlement with them. Antiochus is famous for building the impressive religious sanctuary of Nemrud Dagi or Mount Nemrut, when Antiochus reigned as king he was creating a royal cult for himself and preparing to be worshipped after his death. Antiochus was inspired to create his own cult in the Greek form of the religion Zoroastrianism, Antiochus left many Greek inscriptions revealing many aspects of his religion and explaining his purpose of action. In one inscription, Antiochus directed that his tomb should be built in a high and holy place, remote from people and close to the gods, Antiochus wanted his body to be preserved for eternity
Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
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Antiochus I of Commagene, shaking hands with Heracles, 70–38 BC, Arsameia
Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
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Statues of gods and the pyramid-like tomb-sanctuary of King Antiochus Theos of Commagene rising behind, atop Mount Nemrut
65.
Mithridates II of Commagene
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Mithridates II Antiochus Epiphanes Philorhomaeus Philhellen Monocrites, also known as Mithridates II of Commagene, was a man of Armenian and Greek descent who lived in the 1st century BC. He was a prince of Commagene and one of the sons of King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene, when his father died in 38 BC, he succeeded his father and reigned until his death. According to Plutarch, he was an ally of the Roman triumvir Mark Antony and he also married off his daughter to the Parthian king Orodes II. In 31 BC, Mithridates personally led his forces to Actium in Greece in support of Antony in the war against Caesar Octavian, after the defeat of Antony, however, Mithridates became a loyal ally to Augustus. Nevertheless, Augustus forced Mithridates to hand over a village in Commagene called Zeugma, to show his support for Augustus, Mithridates dropped the title Philhellen from his Aulic titulature and adopted the title Philorhomaeus instead. Both titles were derived from the Commagenean royal cult that Mithridates father had founded and his other title Monocrites is an otherwise unattested title and was most likely a judicial function within the royal administration and a sign of his high social standing. Mithridates had a brother, Antiochus II of Commagene, who was also a prince of the kingdom, in 29 BC, Antiochus was summoned to Rome and executed by Roman emperor Augustus, because Antiochus had caused the assassination of an ambassador whom Mithridates had sent to Rome. The altar inscribes the names of seven generations of members, including the names of Mithridates, of his father. When Mithridates died in 20 BC, his son by Laodice, Mithridates III of Commagene, succeeded him
Mithridates II of Commagene
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Relief of Mithridates II and his sister Laodice at the Tumulus of Karakuş, Turkey
66.
Ariarathes III of Cappadocia
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About 250 BC he was the first ruler of Cappadocia to proclaim himself king. It is known that he sided with Antiochus Hierax in his war against Seleucus II Callinicus, Ariarathes is also said to have expanded his kingdom adding Cataonia to his dominions. By his marriage he was the father of Ariarathes IV and this article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain, Smith, William, ed. Ariarathes III. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
Ariarathes III of Cappadocia
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Silver coin of Ariarathes III (Cabinet des Médailles, Paris)
67.
Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia
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Ariarathes IV, surnamed Eusebes, the Pious, was the king of Cappadocia in 220–163 BC. Ariarathes IV was the son of the king of Cappadocia Ariarathes III and he was a child at his accession, and reigned for about 57 years. He married Antiochis, the daughter of Antiochus III the Great, king of Syria, and wife Laodice III, in 183–179 BC, he assisted Eumenes in his war against Pharnaces, king of Pontus. Polybius mentions that a Roman embassy was sent to Ariarathes after the death of the Seleucid Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Antiochis, the wife of Ariarathes, is said to have at first bore him no children, and accordingly introduced two supposititious ones, who were called Ariarathes and Orophernes. Subsequently, however, the tale goes that she bore her husband two daughters and a son, Mithridates, afterwards Ariarathes V, and then informed Ariarathes of the deceit she had practised upon him. The other two were in consequence sent away from Cappadocia, one to Rome, the other to Ionia, shuckburgh, London - New York, Christian Settipani, Les Ancêtres de Charlemagne. This article incorporates text from a now in the public domain, Smith, William. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia
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O: Diademed head of Ariarathes IV
68.
Ariarathes V of Cappadocia
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Ariarathes V Eusebes Philopator was son of the preceding king Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia and Antiochis. Previously called Mithridates, he reigned 33 years, 163–130 BC and he was distinguished by the excellence of his character and his cultivation of philosophy and the liberal arts and is considered by some to have been the greatest of the Kings of Cappadocia. Ariarathes was deprived of his kingdom, and fled to Rome about 158 BC and he was restored by the Romans, who, however, allowed Orophernes to reign jointly with him, as is expressly stated by Appian, and implied by Polybius. The joint government, however, did not last long, for we find Ariarathes shortly afterwards named as sole king. In 154 BC, Ariarathes assisted the king of Pergamum Attalus II in his war against Prusias II of Bithynia and he fell in 130 BC, in the war of the Romans against Aristonicus of Pergamum. In return for the succours which he had brought the Romans on that occasion, by his wife Nysa of Cappadocia he had six children, but they were all, with the exception of one, killed by their mother, that she might obtain the government of the kingdom. After she had put to death by the people on account of her cruelty. Ariarathes was a strong philhellene, himself honoured with the Athenian citizenship and he was munificent in his donations to Athens and its institutions, an inscription remains by an association of professional actors which thanks him and his wife for his patronage. It is also known that he corresponded with the Greek philosopher Carneades, shuckburgh, London - New York, This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain, Smith, William, ed. Ariarathes V. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
Ariarathes V of Cappadocia
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O: Diademed head of Ariarathes V
69.
Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia
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Ariarathes VII Philometor, King of Cappadocia, was the first son of King Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia and his wife Laodice of Cappadocia. Ariarathes VII had a sister called Nysa and a younger brother called Ariarathes VIII of Cappadocia. In his first years he reigned under the regency of his mother Laodice, during this period the kingdom was seized by King Nicomedes III of Bithynia, who married Laodice. Hazel, John, Whos Who in the Greek World, Ariarathes VII, Head, Barclay, Historia Numorum, Cappadocia
Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia
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O: Diademed head of Ariarathes VII
70.
Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia
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Ariobarzanes I, named Philoromaios, was the king of Cappadocia from 95 BC to c.63 BC–62 BC. Ariobarzanes I was a Cappadocian nobleman of obscure origins who was of Persian descent and he eventually abdicated, making way for the rule of his son Ariobarzanes II of Cappadocia in c.63 BC–62 BC. Ariobarzanes I married a Greek woman, whom he had as his queen a noblewoman called Athenais Philostorgos I, Athenais bore Ariobarzanes I two children, a son, Ariobarzanes II who succeeded him and a daughter, Isias Philostorgos who married the King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia
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References [edit]
71.
Archelaus of Cappadocia
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Archelaus was a Roman client prince and the last king of Cappadocia. Archelaus was a Cappadocian Greek nobleman, possibly of Macedonian descent and his full name was Archelaus Sisines. He was the son, namesake of the Roman Client and High Priest Ruler Archelaus, of the temple state of Comana, Cappadocia. Archelaus’ father served as the High Priest of the Roman Goddess of War, Archelaus had a brother called Sisines. The paternal grandfather of Archelaus, also known as Archelaus, was the first in his family to be High Priest and Roman Client Ruler of the state of Comana. His paternal grandfather claimed to be descended from King Mithridates VI of Pontus and his father was replaced by another Greek nobleman called Lycomedes. Pompey was their patron and it was he that appointed his paternal grandfather as High Priest Ruler of the temple state of Comana. Years later the mother of Archelaus, Glaphyra, became one of the mistresses to the Roman Triumvir Mark Antony, Glaphyra was a Hetaera, or courtesan. His mother was famed and celebrated in antiquity for her beauty, charm, through their affair, Glaphyra had influenced and induced Antony to designate and install her son Archelaus as king of Cappadocia. In 36 BC, Antony removed from his throne and then executed the former Cappadocian King Ariarathes X and his mother appeared to be a powerful lady at the Royal Court and was involved with internal politics in Cappadocia. After Archelaus assumed the Cappadocian throne, his title was in Greek, Ἀρχέλαος Φιλοπατρίς Κτίστης. Philopatris Ktistes, means in Greek lover and founder of his country and his royal title is known from surviving inscriptions, in particular from coinage. In his early reign Archelaus married his first wife, whom through her marriage to him became Queen of Cappadocia, the identity of an earlier wife or wives has not been recorded. His first wife was an unnamed Princess from Armenia, who died by 8 BC, there is a possibility that his first wife may have been a distant relative of his. His first wife may have been a daughter of King Artavasdes II of Armenia of the Artaxiad Dynasty, Artavasdes II was the father of the future Armenian Kings Artaxias II and Tigranes III. With his first wife, Archelaus had two children, a daughter called Glaphyra through whom he had descendants, and a son called Archelaus of Cilicia. Archelaus was an ally to Antony, until his defeat at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, before Archelaus became an ally to Octavian, he was Antony’s beneficiary. By Archelaus making peace with Octavian, he was able to retain his crown, when Octavian became the first Roman Emperor Augustus, Archelaus became an important client monarch to Rome
Archelaus of Cappadocia
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Silver Drachm of Archaelaus of Cappadocia. The Greek inscription reads "ΒΑΣΙΛΈΩΣ ΑΡΧΕΛΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΡΙΔΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΚΤΙΣΤΟΥ."
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Tiberius Julius Mithridates
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Tiberius Julius Mithridates Philogermanicus Philopatris, sometimes known as Mithridates III of the Bosporan was a Roman Client King of the Bosporan Kingdom. Mithridates was the first son of Roman Client Monarchs Aspurgus and Gepaepyris and his younger brother was prince and future King Cotys I. He was a prince of Greek, Iranian and Roman ancestry and he was the first grandchild and grandson of Bosporan Monarchs Asander and Dynamis and Roman Client Rulers of Thrace, Cotys VIII and Antonia Tryphaena. Through his maternal grandmother Antonia Tryphaena, he was a descendant of Roman triumvir Mark Antony, Tryphaena was the first great granddaughter born to the triumvir. Through Tryphaena, Mithridates was also related to members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Through Aspurgus, Mithridates was a descendant of the Greek Macedonian Kings, Antigonus I Monophthalmus, Seleucus I Nicator and Regent and these three men served under King Alexander the Great. Mithridates was named in honor of his ancestor King Mithridates VI of Pontus, Mithridates VI was the paternal grandfather, of his paternal grandmother Dynamis. Little is known on the life of Mithridates. When Aspurgus died in 38, Mithridates had become joint ruler with his mother, sometime before 45, the Roman Emperor Claudius, had given Mithridates the whole Bosporan Kingdom to rule. Claudius recognised and appointed him as the legitimate Bosporan King, in 45 for unknown reasons Claudius, deposed Mithridates from the Bosporan throne and replaced him with his younger brother Cotys I. Claudius had withdrawn the Roman garrison under Aulus Didius Gallus from the Bosporan Kingdom and he mistrusted Cotys I, Aquila and attempted to regain his throne. Mithridates was able to entice the leaders of the local tribes and he was able to seize control of the local tribes and collect an army to declare war on Cotys I and Aquila. When Cotys I and Aquila heard news of war, they feared that the invasion was imminent. Both men knew they had the support of Claudius, Mithridates with his army, engaged in war with Cotys I’s army and Aquila’s battalions, in a three-day war, which Cotys I and Aquila won unscathed and triumphant at the Don River. Mithridates knew that resistance was hopeless and considered an appeal to Claudius, Mithridates turned to a local tribesman called Eunones, to help him. Eunones, sent envoys to Rome to Claudius with a letter from Mithridates, in Mithridates’ letter to the Emperor, Mithridates greeted and addressed him with great honor and respect from one ruler to another ruler. Mithridates asked Claudius for a pardon and to be spared from a procession or capital punishment. Claudius wasn’t sure how to punish or deal with Mithridates, Mithridates was captured and brought to Rome as a prisoner
Tiberius Julius Mithridates
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Tiberius Julius Mithridates
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Tiberius Julius Cotys I
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Tiberius Julius Cotys I Philocaesar Philoromaios Eusebes, also known as Cotys I or Kotys I was a prince and Roman client king of the Bosporan Kingdom. Cotys I was the son of Roman client kings Aspurgus. His eldest brother was prince and King Mithridates and he was a prince of Greek, Iranian and Roman ancestry. Cotys I was the second grandchild and grandson of Bosporan monarchs Asander and Dynamis and Roman client rulers of Thrace, Cotys VIII, through his maternal grandmother Antonia Tryphaena, he was a descendant of Roman triumvir Mark Antony. Tryphaena was the first great granddaughter born to the triumvir, through Tryphaena, Cotys I was also related to various members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Through Aspurgus, Cotys I was a descendant of the Greek Macedonian Kings, Antigonus I Monophthalmus, Seleucus I Nicator and Regent and these three men served under King Alexander the Great. Cotys I was named in honor of his maternal grandfather. Little is known on the life of Cotys I, when Aspurgus died in 38, his brother became joint ruler with his mother. Sometime before 45, the Roman Emperor Claudius gave his brother the whole Bosporan Kingdom to rule, Claudius recognised and appointed Mithridates as the legitimate Bosporan King. In 45, for reasons, Claudius deposed Mithridates from the Bosporan throne. Claudius had withdrawn the Roman garrison under Aulus Didius Gallus from the Bosporan Kingdom, Cotys I’s brother despised the situation and mistrusted him and Aquila. Mithridates attempted to regain his throne, Mithridates was able to entice the leaders of the local tribes and deserters into becoming his allies. He was able to control of the local tribes and collect an army to declare war on Cotys. When Cotys and Aquila heard news of war, they feared that the invasion was imminent. Both men knew they had the support of Claudius, Mithridates with his army engaged in war with Cotys I’s army and Aquila’s battalions, in a three-day war, which Cotys I and Aquila won unscathed and triumphant at the Don River. Mithridates was forced by Claudius to surrender, Mithridates was captured and taken to Rome as a prisoner. He was displayed as a public figure beside the platform in the Roman Forum along with his guards, Mithridates appealed to the Emperor for mercy to be spared from a triumphal procession or capital punishment. Claudius was impressed with Mithridates’ mercy from his letter and allowed Mithridates to live and he was spared from any capital punishment and was exiled
Tiberius Julius Cotys I
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Tetranummia editing by Tiberius Julius Cotys I
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