Kingdom of Commagene

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Map showing Commagene as a tributary kingdom of the Armenian Empire under Tigranes the Great

The Kingdom of Commagene (Greek: Βασίλειον τῆς Kομμαγηνής, Armenian: Կոմմագենէի Թագավորութուն) 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.^[4][3]

[edit] History

King Mithridates of Commagene shakes hand with Heracles. Relief from Hierothesion of Arsameia, 69-34 BC. This is a good example for the eclectic Hellenistic culture of that period, when local themes were mixed with Greek themes.

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. He was able to deflect Roman attacks from Mark Antony, whom he eventually joined in the Roman civil war. However, after Antony's defeat to Augustus, Commagene was made a Roman client state. In AD 17 Tiberius deposed Antiochus III and annexed Commagene to the province of Syria, but in ca. 43 AD Caligula reinstated his son Antiochus IV, and also gave him the wild areas of Cilicia to govern. Antiochus IV reigned until 72, when Vespasian deposed the dynasty and re-annexed the territory to Syria. The descendants of Antiochus lived prosperously in Greece and Italy, as testified by a monument to Philopappos, a descendant of Antiochus, erected in Athens sometime between 114 and 116 AD.

[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

• List of rulers of Commagene
• Roman province
• Mount Nemrut

[edit] References