Cheiroukes

Cheiroukes
XEIPOΥKOΣ
Cheiroukes; XEIPOΥKOΣ
Satrap of Marsakes
	Coinage of Cheiroukes, "Satrap of Marsakes", circa 50 BCE. He is beardless, and wearing the Parthian-style tiara with ear flap. Legend reconstructed from several coins: XEIPOΥKOY MAPΣAKOY CATPAΠOY "Of Cheiroukes, Satrap of Marzakes" (here [X]ЄIPOY/KOY HAPO/AKOY CA[T]/PAΠOY).
Reign	circa 50 BCE

Cheiroukes (XEIPOΥKOΣ, ruled circa 50 BCE), was probably the governor of the Arsacid provinces of Sakastan and Arachosia.^[1] On his coinage, he presents himself as "Satrap" (CATPAΠOΣ) of the region of "Mazakes" (MAPΣAKOΣ), which covers the eastern provinces of the Arsacid Empire, which came to include Sakastan.^[1]

Cheiroukes might have been of Parthian, or perhaps of Saka origin.^[1] The Parthian Empire had been ruling the region of Sakastan since the victory of Mithridates II (124–88 BCE) over the Sakas, and these "Satraps" governed in the area until the establishment of the dynasty of Gondophares (19-46 CE).^[1]

Cheiroukes minted coins with his portrait. He was probably one of the Arsacid governors of the area, with others such as Tanlis Mardates, before the rise of the dynasty of the Indo-Parthian ruler Gondophares (r. 19–46).^[2]

A seal with the inscription "MAPΣAKOY" is otherwise known.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Rezakhani 2017, p. 32.
^ Rezakhani 2017, p. 32, From the numismatic point of view, the early Indo-Parthians before the rise of Gondophares were little-known authorities who produced coins initially in the style of the Parthians (i.e. Arsacids) and then the Indo-Scythian kings such as Maues.16 They might have been Parthian, or possibly ‘Saka’, satraps of Sakistan/Sistan appointed by the Arsacid ruler. This can be observed from the coins of Cheiroukes, who calls himself a ‘satrap’ of the Marsakes region, matching the eastern provinces of the Arsacid Empire, and later Sistan proper. The coinage of a series of authorities whose names are given as Tanlis, Tanlis Mardates, and probably a queen named Rangodeme are quite likely to be the last series issued by these ‘satraps’ before the establishment of the dynasty of Gondophares in Sistan and Arachosia. The early rulers of Sakistan/Sistan can thus be characterised as Arsacid governors, possibly of Saka origin, who are appointed following the defeat of the Sakas in the region by Mithridates II.
^ Rosenfield, John M. (1967). The Dynasty Arts of the Kushans. University of California Press. p. 1, pl. XVI, 2.

Sources

Rezakhani, Khodadad (2017). "East Iran in Late Antiquity". ReOrienting the Sasanians: East Iran in Late Antiquity. Edinburgh University Press. pp. 1–256. ISBN 9781474400305. JSTOR 10.3366/j.ctt1g04zr8. (registration required)

[FOOTNOTERezakhani201732-1] Rezakhani 2017, p. 32.

[FOOTNOTERezakhani201732From_the_numismatic_point_of_view,_the_early_Indo-Parthians_before_the_rise_of_Gondophares_were_little-known_authorities_who_produced_coins_initially_in_the_style_of_the_Parthians_(i.e._Arsacids)_and_then_the_Indo-Scythian_kings_such_as_Maues.16_They_might_have_been_Parthian,_or_possibly_‘Saka’,_satraps_of_Sakistan/Sistan_appointed_by_the_Arsacid_ruler._This_can_be_observed_from_the_coins_of_''Cheiroukes'',_who_calls_himself_a_‘satrap’_of_the_Marsakes_region,_matching_the_eastern_provinces_of_the_Arsacid_Empire,_and_later_Sistan_proper._The_coinage_of_a_series_of_authorities_whose_names_are_given_as_Tanlis,_Tanlis_Mardates,_and_probably_a_queen_named_Rangodeme_are_quite_likely_to_be_the_last_series_issued_by_these_‘satraps’_before_the_establishment_of_the_dynasty_of_Gondophares_in_Sistan_and_Arachosia._The_early_rulers_of_Sakistan/Sistan_can_thus_be_characterised_as_Arsacid_governors,_possibly_of_Saka_origin,_who_are_appointed_following_the_defeat_of_the_Sakas_in_the_region_by] Rezakhani 2017, p. 32, From the numismatic point of view, the early Indo-Parthians before the rise of Gondophares were little-known authorities who produced coins initially in the style of the Parthians (i.e. Arsacids) and then the Indo-Scythian kings such as Maues.16 They might have been Parthian, or possibly ‘Saka’, satraps of Sakistan/Sistan appointed by the Arsacid ruler. This can be observed from the coins of Cheiroukes, who calls himself a ‘satrap’ of the Marsakes region, matching the eastern provinces of the Arsacid Empire, and later Sistan proper. The coinage of a series of authorities whose names are given as Tanlis, Tanlis Mardates, and probably a queen named Rangodeme are quite likely to be the last series issued by these ‘satraps’ before the establishment of the dynasty of Gondophares in Sistan and Arachosia. The early rulers of Sakistan/Sistan can thus be characterised as Arsacid governors, possibly of Saka origin, who are appointed following the defeat of the Sakas in the region by Mithridates II.

[3] Rosenfield, John M. (1967). The Dynasty Arts of the Kushans. University of California Press. p. 1, pl. XVI, 2.

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