Ariaramnes of Cappadocia
| Ariaramnes | |
|---|---|
 Coin of Ariaramnes | |
| King ofCappadocia | |
| Reign | 280–230 BC |
| Predecessor | Ariarathes II |
| Successor | Ariarathes III |
| Died | 230 BC |
| Dynasty | Ariarathid |
| Father | Ariarathes II |
Ariaramnes(Old Persian:𐎠𐎼𐎡𐎹𐎠𐎼𐎶𐎴Ariyāramna,Greek:Ἀριάμνης), was theAriarathidking ofCappadociafrom 280 BC to 230 BC. He was the son and successor ofAriarathes II.
Ariaramnes' name is the Greek attestation of anOld Iranianname,Aryārāman( "he who brings peace to theAryans").[1]His name is sometimes confused with an akin name, Ariamnes.[1]Ariaramnes minted coins during his reign. On the obverse of his coins, he is portrayed wearing thePersiansatrapaltiara,whilst the reverse shows him holding a lance whilst riding a horse.[1][2]
Although Cappadocia had throughout its history been hardly subjected toHellenism,it slowly began to affect the region now with order and stability under the Ariarathid dynasty.[2][3]This can be seen on the engravings of Ariaramnes' coins, who is the first king of his dynasty to mint coins with Greek engravings instead of the traditionalAramaic.[3]On some of these coins the nameTyanais engraved, which indicates that Ariaramnes had conquered the city.[2]
Originally a vassal of theGreekSeleucid Empire,Ariaramnes rebelled and obtained independence.[1]However, he sustained friendly relations with his former suzerains, with one of his daughters marrying princeAntiochus Hierax,and the latter's sisterStratonicemarrying Ariaramnes' son Ariarathes (Ariarathes III).[1]Consequently, the Seleucid kingAntiochus II Theos(r. 261 – 246 BC) bestowed Ariarathes with the title of "king", who ruled together with Ariaramnes from 255 BC.[4][1]In 230 BC, Ariaramnes received Antiochus Hierax after the latter had fled from his ruling brotherSeleucus II Callinicus(r. 246 – 225 BC).[1]Ariaramnes died around the same period, with Ariarathes becoming the sole ruler of the kingdom.[3][2]
References[edit]
- ^abcdefgShahbazi 1986,pp. 410–411.
- ^abcdBoyce & Grenet 1991,p. 267.
- ^abcRaditsa 1983,p. 111.
- ^Raditsa 1983,p. 115.
Sources[edit]
- Boyce, Mary;Grenet, Frantz (1991). Beck, Roger (ed.).A History of Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism under Macedonian and Roman Rule.Leiden: Brill.ISBN978-9004293915.
- Raditsa, Leo (1983). "Iranians in Asia Minor". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.).The Cambridge History of Iran, Vol. 3 (1): The Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanian periods.Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-1139054942.
- Shahbazi, A. Shapur(1986)."Ariyāramna".Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. II, Fasc. 4.pp. 410–411.