Frataraka

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Bagadates, Frataraka ruler
Bagadates, 3rd c.BCE. The headgear is a combination of a satrapal tiara, and the Hellenistic diadem of a ruler.[1]
Bagadates enthroned, wearing long cloak and kyrbasia, holding sceptre and cup. Achaemenid standard to left.[2][3]
Map of Persis

Frataraka (

Persian title, interpreted variously as “leader, governor, forerunner”.[6] It is an epithet or title of a series of rulers in Persis from 3rd to mid 2nd century BC, or alternatively between 295 and 220 BC,[7] at the time of the Seleucid Empire, prior to the Parthian conquest of West Asia and Iran. Studies of frataraka coins are important to historians of this period.[8]

Rulers and period

Bagadates I was the first recorded Frataraka.[9]

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 (

Fārs.[10] They ruled from the end of the 3rd century BC to the beginning of the 2nd century BC, and Vahbarz or Vādfradād obtained independence circa 150 BC, when Seleucid power waned in the areas of southwestern Persia and the Persian Gulf region.[10]

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

Vahbarz, third Frataraka ruler, 3rd c.BCE. The headgear is a combination of a satrapal tiara, and the Hellenistic diadem of a ruler.[14]
Oborzos, showing on the reverse an Achaemenid king slaying an armoured, possibly Greek or Macedonian, soldier.[5][15][16]

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

Vādfradād II
(Autophradates II). A transitional ruler, sometimes using the Frataka inscription (as here), or no inscription at all, and not yet using the title of mlk ("King").

Antiochia in Persis in peace, and 190-189 BCE, the latest possible date for the battle led by Noumenios if the Antiochos in question is indeed Antiochos III, since the latter was defeated at the Battle of Magnesia at that time.[19][5]

Pliny writes:

"

Mesene by king Antiochos, while fighting against the Persians, defeated them at sea, and at low water, by land, with an army of cavalry, on the same day; in memory of which event he erected a twofold trophy on the same spot, in honour of Jupiter and Neptune"

— Pliny, HN 6.152.[5][19]

During an apparent transitional period, corresponding to the reigns of

Dārēv I however, the new title of mlk, or king, appeared, sometimes with the mention of prs (Persis), suggesting that the kings of Persis had become independent rulers.[20]

When the

Arsacid king Mithridates I (ca. 171-138 BC) took control of Persis, he left the Persian dynasts in office and they were allowed to continue minting coins with the title of mlk ("King").[10]

Sasanian Empire

With the reign of

Ardaxšir I (Ardashir I), šāhanšāh ī Ērān, becoming the first king of the new Sasanian Empire.[20]

Roles of the frataraka

During the

deities such as Ahura Mazda or god-like kings such as the Achaemenids
or

Frataraka coins

Vadfradad I (Autophradates I). 3rd century BC. Istakhr (Persepolis) mint. Head of ruler with mustache and earring, wearing diadem and kyrbasia / rtrk’ up outer left from bottom, br up inner left from bottom, wtprdt p in exergue, zy ’l’ down outer right. Fire temple of Ahura-Mazda; above, half-figure of Ahura-Mazda; to inner left, Vādfradād standing right; standard to inner right.[21] The headgear is a combination of a satrapal tiara, and the Hellenistic diadem of a ruler.[22]

The evidence for the quasi-autonomous local governors that were the Fratarakas is almost exclusively coming from their coinage.

denar".[4] The Fratarakas essentially followed the example of their Seleucid overlords in striking coins.[4] Several of their coins were further struck on issues of the Seleucids, or posthumous issues of Alexander the Great.[4]

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

Achaemenid iconography.[5]

The language used in the legends on the coins is

Zoroastrian iconography of the coins, shows that these coins had a role as "Persid religio-political propaganda".[4]

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
    Bagadates
  • Artaxerses I (Ardaxsir I). Early-mid 3rd century BC.
    Artaxerses I
    (Ardaxsir I). Early-mid 3rd century BC.
  • Vahbarz (Oborzos), governor, c. mid 3rd century BC
    Vahbarz
    (Oborzos), governor, c. mid 3rd century BC
  • Vādfradād I (Autophradates I). 3rd century BC.
    Vādfradād I
    (Autophradates I). 3rd century BC.

Summary of debates

Dārēv I
(Darios I) used for the first time the title of mlk (King). 2nd century BC.

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

Persia
.

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

Bagadates corresponding to a supposed Persian uprising leading to the destruction of the Tall-e Takht citadel of Pasargadae that same year.[23] According to B. Kritt in The Early Seleucid Mint of Susa (1997), the coinage of the Fratrakas was issued in Susa, rather than Persepolis as traditionally held.[24] He also attributed them to the period circa 295 - circa 220 BCE, and considers them as independent rulers by divine right, rather than administrators for the Seleukids. The first date of 295 BCE corresponds to the destruction of Pasargadae, which marks the end of Seleucid coinage in Susa. The end date of 220 BCE corresponds to the time when, according to Polybius, the Seleucid satrap Alexander became satrap of satrap of Persis. His brother, the Seleucid usurper Molon, was in the meantime satrap of Media.[24]

2nd century BCE thesis

Vādfradād I
(Autophradates I).

However, the coinage of the Fratarakas is very close to that of the

Vadfradad I (when their coinage starts to show a depiction of Khvarnah or Ahura Mazda on the reverse, on top of the fire temple).[23]

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

References

  1. ^ A History of Zoroastrianism vol II & III. p. 112.
  2. ^ Ashmore, Harry S. (1961). Encyclopaedia Britannica: a new survey of universal knowledge. Encyclopaedia Britannica. p. 603.
  3. .
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l A History of Zoroastrianism vol II & III. pp. 110–116.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b c "Frataraka". Encyclopædia Iranica. Columbia University. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  7. ^ CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Artaxsir (Artaxerxes) I. Early 3rd century BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.15 gm, 4h). Susa mint.
  8. . Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  9. ^ CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Baydād (Bagadat). Early 3rd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 17.06 g, 9h).
  10. ^ a b c d e FRATARAKA – Encyclopaedia Iranica.
  11. ^ CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Artaxsir (Artaxerxes) I. Early 3rd century BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.15 gm, 4h). Susa mint.
  12. ^ .
  13. ^ A History of Zoroastrianism vol II & III. p. 116.
  14. ^ A History of Zoroastrianism vol II & III. p. 112.
  15. .
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ A History of Zoroastrianism vol II & III. p. 116.
  18. ^ LacusCurtius • Strabo's Geography — Book XV Chapter 3. p. XV 3.24.
  19. ^ .
  20. ^ a b CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Vahbarz (Oborzos). 3rd century BC. AR Obol (10mm, 0.50 g, 11h).
  21. ^ CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Vādfradād (Autophradates) I. 3rd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 15.89 g, 9h). Istakhr (Persepolis) mint.
  22. ^ A History of Zoroastrianism vol II & III. p. 112.
  23. ^ .
  24. ^ a b CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Artaxsir (Artaxerxes) I. Early 3rd century BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.15 gm, 4h). Susa mint.
  25. ^ CNG: KINGS of PERSIS. Vādfradād (Autophradates) II. Early-mid 2nd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.23 g, 11h). Istakhr (Persepolis) mint.

Sources