Satyros I

Satyros I
King of the Bosporan Kingdom
Reign circa. 432-389
Predecessor Spartokos I
Successor Gorgippos I and Leukon I
Born circa. 440 BC
Panticapaeum
Died 389 BC (aged 81)
Bosporan Kingdom
Consort Unknown
Issue
Greek Σάτυρος
House Spartocid
Father Spartokos I
Mother Unknown
Religion Greek Polytheism

Satyros I (died 389 BC) also known as Satyrus (Greek:Σάτυρος A') was the Spartocid ruler of the Bosporan Kingdom from 432–389 BC.[1] During his rule he built upon the expansive foreign policy of his father Spartokos I. He conquered Nymphaion, became involved in the political developments of the neighboring Sindike kingdom and laid siege to the city of Theodosia,[2] which was a serious commercial rival because of its ice-free port and proximity to the grain fields of eastern Crimea.

He presided over a strengthening of ties with Athens, and at one point possibly had a statue raised in his honour in the city.[3][4] He was also the father of Leukon and Gorgippos.

Reign

Satyros I was a leading figure in the expansion of his father's kingdom, initially gaining some success by gaining Nymphaeum from Gylon and perhaps Kimmerikon, but later had extensive problems with the neighboring Sindike Kingdom, with which he had started an unsucessful war, and the Greek city-states of Theodosia and Heraclea Pontica.

Problems with the Sindi

Satyros encountered extensive problems with the Sindi. This happened due to Satyros I offering his daughter to Hekaktaios,[5] the king of the Sindi but told him to kill his previous wife, Tirgatao. Hekataios, instead of killing his wife,[6] had her imprisoned in a tower, from which she was able to escape and reach her original tribe, the Ixomatae. Tirgitao married her father's successor, her father presumably being king of the Ixomatae, and roused many tribes to lay war against Satyros.[7] Satyros, knowing he could not win, offered his son Metrodoros as a hostage and sued for peace.[8]

Shortly after this, there was an attempt on Tirgatao's life, likely organized by Satyros.[9] After finding out about this scheme, Tirgatao had Metrodoros killed, and once again waged war on Satyros.[10] This war would be ended by Leukon and Gorgippos shortly after their father's death and their ascent to the throne.[11]

Death and legacy

Satyros would later die in the unsuccessful First Siege of Theodosia in 389 BC, his death giving the ascension to Leukon and Gorgippos.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gaudukevich, V. F. (1979). "Bosporskoe tsarstvo". The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (3rd Edition). Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  2. ↑ Trofimova, Anna A. (2007). Greeks on the Black Sea: ancient art from the Hermitage. Los Angeles, USA: Getty Publications. pp. 11–12.
  3. ↑ Dinarchus. Against Demosthenes. Cambridge MA (USA): Harvard University Press. p. 1.43.
  4. ↑ Gardiner-Garden, John R. (1986). "Fourth Century Conceptions of Maiotian Ethnography". Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte: 193. JSTOR 4435962.
  5. ↑ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. Satyrus gave him his daughter in marriage, and urged him to kill his former wife
  6. ↑ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. Hecataeus passionately loved the Maeotian, he could not think of killing her, but confined her to a strong castle
  7. ↑ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. The confederates first invaded the country of Hecataeus, and afterwards ravaged the dominions of Satyrus
  8. ↑ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. accompanied by Metrodorus the son of Satyrus, who was offered as a hostage
  9. ↑ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. But no sooner had they made the oath, than they planned schemes to break it. Satyrus prevailed on two of his friends, to revolt to her, and put themselves under her protection
  10. ↑ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. Tirgatao ordered the hostage to be executed, and laid waste the territories of Satyrus with fire and sword
  11. ↑ Polyaenus. Strategems. pp. V.2. leaving his son Gorgippus to succeed him in the throne. He renounced his father's proceedings, and sued for peace, which she granted on payment of a tribute, and put and end to the war.

Gaudukevich, V. F. (1979). "Bosporskoe tsarstvo". The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (3rd Edition). Retrieved 5 December 2011. 

Trofimova, Anna A. (2007). Greeks on the Black Sea: ancient art from the Hermitage. Los Angeles, USA: Getty Publications. pp. 11–12. 

Dinarchus. Against Demosthenes. Cambridge MA (USA): Harvard University Press. p. 1.43. 

Gardiner-Garden, John R. (1986). "Fourth Century Conceptions of Maiotian Ethnography". Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte: 193. JSTOR 4435962. 


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