Frataraka
Frataraka (
Rulers and period
Several rulers have been identified as belonging to Fratarakā dynasty (from the title prtrk' zy alhaya, or "governor of the gods" on their coins): bgdt (
Alternatively, they may have ruled between circa 295 and 220 BC, until the Seleucid briefly took back direct control of the region of Persis under the Seleucid satrap
Strabo relates that Persian rulers were tributaries to the Greeks, before falling under the control of the Parthians:
The Persians have kings who are subject to other kings, formerly of the kings of Macedonia, but now to the kings of the Parthians.
End of the Fratarakas
Pliny writes:
"
During an apparent transitional period, corresponding to the reigns of
When the
Sasanian Empire
With the reign of
Roles of the frataraka
During the
Frataraka coins
The evidence for the quasi-autonomous local governors that were the Fratarakas is almost exclusively coming from their coinage.
It seems that the coinage of the Fratarakas was mainly issued for purposes of prestige, rather than just monetary circulation, which was actually very limited.[4] The honorific "of the gods" (Aramaic zy Thy) on their coinage may be related to the Seleucid practice of deifying their kings.[4]
The coinage of the Fratrakas combines
The language used in the legends on the coins is
The Aramaic script used in the coins is quite unclear, which brings uncertainties to their reading. Even the title used by the Fratarakas prtkr* or prtdr’ is uncertain. The root word for this title has been interpreted as coming from *frat ("fire"), on the basis of the Armenian word hrat, which probably entered Iranian as a loanword. This interpretation suggest that the rulers in question were priest-kings, whose role was mainly to maintain the sacred fire in Persepolis.[4]
Alternatively the title may be derived from the Aramaic prlrk, used to designate an Achaemenid official in Egypt, a subordinate to a Satrap, equivalent to a "prefect, governor" who would have own his position to the Seleucids.[4] The rulers are depicted wearing a short jacket over tunic and trousers, and they wear the satrapal tiara that had been in use on the coinage of the satraps of the Achaemenid Empire, and in addition they wear the Hellenic diadem of a ruler.[4]
-
Bagadates
-
Artaxerses I(Ardaxsir I). Early-mid 3rd century BC.
-
Vahbarz(Oborzos), governor, c. mid 3rd century BC
-
Vādfradād I(Autophradates I). 3rd century BC.
Summary of debates
There are many controversies and debates about the origin, datings and sequence of the Frataraka rulers.
Hill was the first to catalog and study them and he opted for the same dates as Herzfeld, namely to early 3rd BC. But Alram and historian Wiesehofer all pointed to later dating iconographically and epigraphically, and also based on the seamless continuation of their coinage from the first series to second and so on. They argued that they ruled by late 2nd century BC and ended by mid 2nd century BC after
Some scholars such as Museler, Sarkhosh Curtis, Hoover, Engles and Mahdi TF Ahrabi believe they have started ruling by 3rd century BC, and there is plenty of evidence produced by researchers pointing to it. First, there are couple of hoards discovered by Herzfeld since 1930s, which until now are showing the existence of Frataraka coins with Seleucus I victories and trophy coins which were issued by him during 305-301 BC. If we take the circulation average of 20 years, we reach to 285-280 BC and that year coincides with his death, and his replacement by his co-regent and son Antiochus I.
There were no other coins from other Seleucid rulers discovered with Frataraka hoards suggesting the Frataraka got became semi-independent and started to strike their coins instead. The significant number of undertype of Seleucus I on coins of Frataraka rulers also point out to their closeness to first the first Seleucid king and some early Seleucid influences both in iconography and typology of their coins shows they were ruling Persis earlier than 2nd BC.
3rd century BCE thesis
Some authors have dated the rule of the Fratarakas to the 3rd century BCE, with a starting point circa 280 BCE under ruler
2nd century BCE thesis
However, the coinage of the Fratarakas is very close to that of the
List of the Frataraka rulers of Persis
Name | Date | Coinage | Family Relations | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Baydād (bgdt)
|
3rd century BCE | Fratarakā dynasty – son of Baykard | Governor of the Seleucid Empire. Coin legend bgdt prtrk’ zy ’lhy’ (“Baydād, fratarakā of the gods”) in Aramaic. | |
2 | Ardaxšīr I (rtḥštry)
|
mid-3rd century BCE | Fratarakā dynasty | Governor of the Seleucid Empire | |
3 | Vahbarz (whwbrz – called Oborzos in Polyenus 7.40)
|
mid-3rd century BCE | Fratarakā dynasty | Governor of the Seleucid Empire | |
4 | Vādfradād I (wtprdt)
|
3rd century BCE | Fratarakā dynasty – son of Vahbarz | Governor of the Seleucid Empire. Appearance of Ahura Mazda on the reverse, on top of the fire temple.[23] | |
5 | Vadfradad II
|
c. 140 BCE | Fratarakā dynasty | Governor of the Seleucid Empire. Eagle emblem on top of stylized kyrbasia. Aramaic coin legend wtprdt [p]rtrk’ zy ’ly’ (“Vādfradād, frataraka of the gods”).[25] | |
6 | ‘Unknown king I’ (Syknlt?) | 2nd half of 2nd century BCE | ? | Transition period |
The Fratarakas were succeeded by the Kings of Persis.
See also
- Persis
- Bagdates
References
- ^ A History of Zoroastrianism vol II & III. p. 112.
- ^ Ashmore, Harry S. (1961). Encyclopaedia Britannica: a new survey of universal knowledge. Encyclopaedia Britannica. p. 603.
- ISBN 9781783107964.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l A History of Zoroastrianism vol II & III. pp. 110–116.
- ^ a b c d e f Engels, David. Iranian Identity and Seleucid Allegiance; Vahbarz, the Frataraka and Early Arsacid Coinage, in: K. Erickson (ed.), The Seleukid Empire, 281-222 BC. War within the Family, Swansea, 2018, 173-196.
- ^ a b c "Frataraka". Encyclopædia Iranica. Columbia University. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- ^ CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Artaxsir (Artaxerxes) I. Early 3rd century BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.15 gm, 4h). Susa mint.
- ISBN 9780857718013. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- ^ CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Baydād (Bagadat). Early 3rd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 17.06 g, 9h).
- ^ a b c d e FRATARAKA – Encyclopaedia Iranica.
- ^ CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Artaxsir (Artaxerxes) I. Early 3rd century BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.15 gm, 4h). Susa mint.
- ^ ISBN 9780857733085.
- ^ A History of Zoroastrianism vol II & III. p. 116.
- ^ A History of Zoroastrianism vol II & III. p. 112.
- ISBN 9781910589953.
- ^ Images of the known coins of this type in KINGS OF PERSIS, Orbozos. 3rd Century BC. Silver Drachm. One of just two known specimens. From The Sunrise Collection.
- ^ A History of Zoroastrianism vol II & III. p. 116.
- ^ LacusCurtius • Strabo's Geography — Book XV Chapter 3. p. XV 3.24.
- ^ ISBN 9780521766418.
- ^ a b CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Vahbarz (Oborzos). 3rd century BC. AR Obol (10mm, 0.50 g, 11h).
- ^ CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Vādfradād (Autophradates) I. 3rd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 15.89 g, 9h). Istakhr (Persepolis) mint.
- ^ A History of Zoroastrianism vol II & III. p. 112.
- ^ ISBN 9780857733085.
- ^ a b CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Artaxsir (Artaxerxes) I. Early 3rd century BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.15 gm, 4h). Susa mint.
- ^ CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Vādfradād (Autophradates) II. Early-mid 2nd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.23 g, 11h). Istakhr (Persepolis) mint.
Sources
- Alram, M " Nomina propria Iranica in nummis ". 1986
- Boyce M & Grenet F. “A History of Zoroastrianism VO: 3 E.J Brill Leiden Publications, 1991, PP110-113
- Brandenstein W & Mayrhofer M. "Handbuch des Altpersischen," Wiesbaden, 1964.
- Cowley, A.E "Aramaic Papyri of the Fifth Century B.C"., Oxford, 1923.
- Curtis, V S "The Frataraka Coins of Persis: Bridging the Gap between Achaemenid and Sasanian Persia" in World of Achaemenid Persia; history, art and society in Iran and the ancient Near East; Edited; 379-396, I. B. Tauris, London; 2010
- Gholami, Kiarash (2021). "A Revised Frataraka Chronology and Coinage". In Faghfoury, Mostafa (ed.). Ancient Iranian Numismatics: In Memory of David Sellwood. Brill. pp. 135–156. ISBN 978-1-949743-16-6.
- Klose, D.O. & Müseler W. "Die Münzen aus Persepolis von Alexander dem Großen zu den Sasaniden".(Munich, 2008).
- Naster P. “Note G’epigraphie Monetaire De Perside Fratakara,Fratakara,Fratadara” Leiden 1968, PP 74–77
- Panaino A. "The Bagan of the Frataraka: Gods or divine kings? "in: C.G. Cereti at al. (ed. s), Religious themes and texts of pre-islamic Iran and Central, Asia, Wiesbaden 2003, pp. 265-288
- Skjaervo P.O, ” The Joy of the Cup". Bulletin of Asia institute, 1997 P 102
- Wiesehöfer, J. “PRTRK, RB HYLʾ und MRʾ,” in H. Sancisi-Weerdenburg and A. Kuhrt, eds., Achaemenid History VI. Asia Minor and Egypt: Old Cultures in a New Empire, Leiden, 1991, pp. 305–9.
- Wiesehöfer, J. "Die 'dunklen Jahrhunderte' der Persis. Untersuchungen zu Geschichte und Kultur von Fārs". in frühhellenistischer Zeit (330-140 v.Chr.) (Zetemata, 90), München 1994
- Wiesehöfer J. "Frataraka Iranica online". 2000