Gepaepyris

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Gepaepyris (name in Greek: η Γηπαιπυρεως, flourished 1st century) was a Thracian Princess and a Roman Client Queen of the Bosporan Kingdom.

Gepaepyris was the first daughter and was among the children of Roman Client Rulers of Thrace, Cotys VIII and Antonia Tryphaena. Her maternal grandparents were Roman Client Rulers Polemon Pythodoros and Pythodorida of Pontus, while her paternal grandparents were Roman Client Rulers Rhoemetalces I and Pythodoris I of Thrace. Through her maternal grandmother, she was a descendant of Roman Triumvir Mark Antony and was related to various members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (her maternal grandmother, was the first grandchild of Roman Triumvir Mark Antony). Gepaepyris was of Persian, Greek and Roman descent.

Gapaepyris unfortunately is not named by any ancient sources. What is known of this Thracian Princess, has come from surviving inscriptions from the Bosporan Kingdom and the ancient Greek city of Cyzicus (now in modern Turkey) and numismatic evidence. Cyzicus became the second residence for her family, while Gapaepyris was growing up. From coins we know, her royal title was Queen Gapaepyris.

Unfortunately, very little is known on the life of Gapaepyris. She married, the Roman Client King of the Bosporan Kingdom, Tiberius Julius Aspurgus. The Bosporan Kingdom was the longest known surviving Roman Client Kingdom. Aspurgus was the son and heir of Bosporan Queen Dynamis from her first marriage to General and Bosporan King Asander. Aspurgus was of Persian and Greek descent.

Aspurgus’ mother was the genuine heir to the Bosporan Kingdom; Dynamis was the daughter of King Pharnaces II of Pontus and the Bosporan, while Dynamis’ paternal grandparents were monarchs Mithridates VI of Pontus and his sister-wife Laodice.

Gepaepyris was the only child, out of the family of Cotys VIII and Antonia Tryphaena, to have children. Gepaepyris bore Aspurgus two sons, who would succeed them. Their sons were:

  • Tiberius Julius Mithridates - he was named in honor of Mithridates VI of Pontus and he died in 68.
  • Tiberius Julius Cotys I - he was named in honor of his late maternal grandfather, King Cotys VIII. Through her second son and grandson Gepaepyris, would have various descendants on the Bosporan throne until the 4th century.

Her various descendants would bear these names Cotys or Kotys, Rheometalces and Rhescuporis. The names Cotys, Rheometalces and Rhescuporis were names that came from her paternal side. When Aspurgus died in 38, Gepaepyris ruled with son Mithridates in the Bosporan Kingdom until 45. Later, her other son Cotys succeeded her and Mithridates.

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