Kingdom of Commagene
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The Kingdom of Commagene (Greek: Βασίλειον τῆς Kομμαγηνής, Armenian: Կոմմագենէի Թագավորութիւն) was an ancient Armenian kingdom of the Hellenistic Age.[1] [2]
Initially a part of the Armenian province of Sophene, it was detached from Armenia along with Sophene by the Seleucids, forming part of the Kingdom of Sophene.[3] Later, in about 163 B.C. the Seleucids detached Commagene from Sophene, and the local Orontid Armenian satrap Ptolemaeus of Commagene established himself as independent ruler of the Kingdom of Commagene in this year. The kingdom maintained its independence until 72 A.D. (with the exception of the period 17 AD - ca. 43 AD) until it became part of the Roman Empire.[3]
Historical evidence suggests that the population of the region was linguistically and ethnically Armenian until the end of the 1st century B.C.[3][4]
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[edit] History
Commagene was a small kingdom, located in modern south-central Turkey, with its capital at Samosata (modern Samsat, near the Euphrates). It was first mentioned in Assyrian texts as Kummuhu, which was normally an ally of Assyria, but eventually annexed as province in 708 BC under Sargon II. The Persian Empire then conquered Commagene in the 6th century BC, and Alexander the Great conquered the territory in the 4th century BC. After the breakup of the Alexandrian Empire, Commagene was a state and province in the Greco-Syrian Seleucid Empire.
The Hellenistic kingdom of Commagene, bounded by Cilicia on the west and Cappadocia on the north, arose in 162 BC. This was the year when its governor, Ptolemy, a Satrap of the disintegrating Seleucid Empire, declared himself independent. Ptolemy's dynasty was related to the Parthian kings, but his descendant Mithridates I Callinicus (100 - 69 BC) embraced the Hellenistic culture and married the Syrian Greek Princess Laodice VII Thea. His dynasty could thus claim ties with both Alexander the Great and the Persian kings. This marriage may also have been part of a peace alliance between Commagene and the Seleucid Empire. From this point on, the kingdom of Commagene became more Greek then Persian.
Mithridates and Laodice’s son was king Antiochus I Theos of Commagene (reigned 70 BC-38 BC). Antiochus was an ally to Roman general Pompey against the Parthians in 64 BC. Through skilled diplomacy, Antiochus was able to keep Commagene independent from the Romans. In 17 when Antiochus III of Commagene died, Emperor Tiberius annexed Commagene to the province of Syria, but in 38 Caligula reinstated his son Antiochus IV and also gave him the wild areas of Cilicia to govern. Antiochus IV was the only Client King of Commagene under the Roman Empire. Antiochus IV reigned until 72, when Emperor Vespasian deposed the dynasty and re-annexed the territory to Syria. The descendants of Antiochus IV lived prosperously and in distinction in Anatolia, Greece, Italy and the Middle East. As a testament to the descendants of Antiochus IV, was his grandson Philopappos who died in 116. The citizens of Athens in 116, erected a funeral monument in honor of Philopappos, who was a benefactor of Athens. Another descendant of Antiochus IV, was the historian Gaius Asinius Quadratus, who lived in the 3rd century.
Kamboja people of India and Cambodia are believed to be related to ancient Kingdom of Commagene.
[edit] Archaeological relics
When the Romans conquered Commagene, the great royal sanctuary at Mount Nemrut was abandoned. The Romans looted the tumulus and the XVI legion built and dedicated a bridge. The surrounding thick forests were cut down and cleared by the Romans for wood, timber and charcoal. The clearing of the surrounding forests have caused much erosion to the area.
In Commagene, there is a column topped by an eagle, which has earned the mound name Karakush, or The Black Bird. An inscription there indicates, there is a royal tomb that housed three women. Unfortunately, the vault of that tomb has also been looted.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Wolfgang Haase, Hildegard Temporini (1986). Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt. Walter de Gruyter. p. 736. ISBN 3110073374.
- ^ Chahin, Mark (2001). The Kingdom of Armenia. Routlege. ISBN 0700714529.
- ^ a b c Toumanoff, Cyril(1963) Studies in Christian Caucasian History, Georgetown University Press
- ^ Bedoukian, Paul (1985). Coinage of the Armenia Kingdoms of Sophene and Commagene. Los Angeles: Armenian Numismatic Society. p. 30 pages. ISBN 0960684239.
[edit] External links
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