Zariadres
Zariadres | |
---|---|
Governor and then King of Sophene | |
Reign | c. 200[1] – c. 188 BC (no later than 163 BC)[2] |
Predecessor | Xerxes |
Successor | Mithrobouzanes |
Issue | Mithrobouzanes Artaxias I (possibly) |
Dynasty | Orontid |
Zariadres was an Orontid ruler of Sophene in the early 2nd century BC. According to Strabo, he was a general of the Seleucid ruler Antiochus III who was made ruler of Sophene, although most scholars believe that he was a member of the Orontid dynasty, which ruled Armenia and Sophene. After the Seleucids were defeated by the Romans in 190 BC, Zariadres and his ally Artaxias I of Greater Armenia (possibly also Zariadres' son) revolted against the Seleucids, became independent kings and expanded their territories. The last information about Zariadres' reign dates to 188 BC. He was succeeded as king by Mithrobouzanes, possibly his son.
Name
Zariadres (Ζαριάδρης) is the
Biography
Strabo writes that Sophene was taken over by a "general [strategos]" of King Antiochus III (r. 222–187 BC) called Zariadres. Simultaneously, Artaxias I took over Greater Armenia.[5] According to David Marshall Lang, this event occurred in 200 BC.[1] Most scholars believe that Zariadres was a member of the Orontid dynasty, which ruled Armenia and Sophene. The preceding Orontid ruler of Sophene, Xerxes, was poisoned on Antiochus III's orders in approximately 212 BC,[6] or later, in 202/201 BC.[7] Different views exist on the question of whether the Zareh mentioned in Artaxias I's Aramaic inscriptions is identical with the Zariadres who became ruler of Sophene according to Strabo. Michał Marciak argues that identifying Zariadres of Sophene with the Zareh of the inscriptions seems to be "the most straightforward interpretation."[8] Marciak further notes that if the two figures are not to be identified, then there is no evidence that Zariadres was a member of the Orontid dynasty.[9] He concludes that Zariadres belonged to a different branch of the Orontid dynasty than the preceding kings of Sophene.[10]
Notes
References
Citations
- ^ a b Lang 2000, p. 512.
- ^ Marciak 2017, p. 127.
- ^ Marciak 2017, p. 80.
- ^ Marciak 2017, p. 81.
- ^ Strabo, Geography 11.14.5
- ^ Marciak 2017, pp. 117–119.
- ^ Sargsyan 1971, p. 521.
- ^ Marciak 2017, pp. 119–120.
- ^ Marciak 2017, p. 120, n. 61.
- ^ Marciak 2017, p. 123: "Antiochos III’s appointee, Zariadres, belonged to another side line of the Orontids like his son, Artaxias, who started a new royal dynasty in Greater Armenia".
- ^ Kovacs 2016, p. 4, n. 11.
- ^ a b Chaumont 1986.
- ^ Marciak 2017, pp. 21–23.
- ^ Hewsen 2001, p. 34.
- ^ a b c Marciak 2017, p. 21.
- ^ Marciak 2017, p. 126.
- ^ Marciak 2017, pp. 127–128.
Sources
- Chaumont, M. L. (1986). "Armenia and Iran ii. The pre-Islamic period". In ISBN 978-0-71009-104-8.
- ISBN 0-226-33228-4.
- Kovacs, Frank L. (2016). Armenian Coinage in the Classical Period. Lancaster: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. ISBN 9780983765240.
- Lang, David M. (2000). "Iran, Armenia and Georgia". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). The Cambridge History of Iran. Vol. 3, Part 1. Cambridge University Press. pp. 505–536.
- Marciak, Michał (2017). Sophene, Gordyene, and Adiabene: Three Regna Minora of Northern Mesopotamia Between East and West. BRILL. ISBN 9789004350724.
- Sargsyan, Gagik (1971). "Hayastani miavorumě ev hzoratsʻumě Artashes A-i ōrokʻ" Հայաստանի միավորումը և հզորացումը Արտաշես Ա-ի օրոք [The unification and strengthening of Armenia under Artashes I]. In Yeremian, Suren; et al. (eds.). Hay zhoghovrdi patmutʻyun Հայ ժողովրդի պատմություն [History of the Armenian People]. Vol. 1. Yerevan: Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences. pp. 521–551.