Elymais

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Elymais
Vassal of Parthia
247 BC – 221 →
Location of Elymais
Approximate extent of Elymais in 51 BC.
Capital Susa
Government Monarchy
King
 - ca. 147 BC Kamnaskires I Soter
 - second century AD Oroes
Historical era Classical antiquity
 - Established 247 BC
 - Disestablished 221

Elymais or Elamais, (Graecized form of the more ancient name, Elam.) were a people who were subject to Parthian control from 247 BC to 221 AD[1](here to corresond to the dates of Parthia), and was the name of the region they inhabited (roughly corresponding to the region named Susiana). It was reportedly these people were great archers and natives of Susa, which lies to the east of Elymais territory. Most of the Elymais were probably descendants of the ancient Elamites[2], who once had control of that area in the past. Nothing is known of their language, even though "Elamite" was still used by the Achaemenid Empire 250 years before the Elymais came into existence.[3] The kingdom of Elymais survived until its extinction by Sassanid invasion in early third century AD.

Contents

[edit] Coinage

The coins depicted a king; it isn't known whether this was a Parthian king or a local ruler as such information hasn't come to light through any means. But these coins were based on Greek standards, of debased Drachms and Tetradrachms. The royal picture is generally based on "Parthian" coinage, usually with an anchor with star in crescent figure, but the reverse has only horizontal lines (this has led numismatists to believe that the engravers didn't know Greek or copied from coins whose writing was already unintelligible)[4].

[edit] The Kings

Adapted from German Wikipedia
  • Kamnaskires I Soter (ca. 147 BC)
  • Kamnaskires II Nikephoros (ca. 145–139 BC)
  • Okkonapses (ca 139 BC)
  • Tigraios (138/37–133/32 BC)
  • Kamnaskires III (82/81–75 BC)
  • Kamnaskires IV (62/61 or 59/58 BC and 56/55 BC)
  • Kamnaskires V and successors (36/35 BC)
  • Orodes I (first half of the first century AD)
  • Orodes II (second half of the first century AD)
  • Kamnaskires-Orodes III (second half of the second century AD)
  • Phraates (end of the first century or beginning of the second century AD)
  • Oroes (?) (second century AD)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.iranica.com/articles/v8f4/v8f427.html Accessed 2008/01/31
  2. ^ Iranica.com - ELYMAIS
  3. ^ G. Cameron Persepolis Treasury Tablets (1948), and R. Hallock, Persepolis Fortification Tablets (1969). See also Persepolis Fortification Archive.
  4. ^ Coins of Elymais

[edit] External links

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