Parthian Empire (247 BC- 224 AD) and Coins

 

The Parthians ruled from 247 BCE to 224 AD creating a vast empire that stretched from the Mediterranean in the west to India and China in the east. East of the Caspian sea there emerged from the steppe of Central Asia a nomadic Scythian tribe called Parni. Later called the Parthians and taking over the Seleucid Empire and fending off the Romans, they established themselves as a great power. With a unique and extremely successful fighting style, the vast area they conquered put them in contact with goods and cultural influences from different parts of their empire.                                             

 Parthia, Drachm, Mithradates II,  123-88 BC                      

From these influences, the Parthians not only blended architectural styles to make their own Parthian architecture but also created their art and dress.                                        

Bronze statue of a Parthian nobleman, located at the National Museum of Iran

The story of Parthia begins with Seleucus I, one of Alexander the Great's generals. After Alexander's death, his generals divided up the conquered territories. Seleucus took Mesopotamia and other districts once central to Persia, creating the Seleucid Empire. With districts or satrapies headed by satraps (governors) beholden to a central government and ultimately the king, Parthia became one of those satrapies. But Parthia as a Seleucid satrapy would soon become its own empire. 

In the infancy of its political history, the Parthian satrapy was located southeast of the Caspian Sea. In 247 BCE, Arsaces (247-217 BCE), Parthia's first king, conquered Parthia. Wanting Parthia back, the Seleucid ruler Antiochus III would retake it in 209 BCE. By this time Arsaces's son, Arsaces II was on the throne. Antiochus set him as a satrap.

                                             

Parthia, shaded yellow, alongside the Seleucid Empire (blue) and the Roman Republic (purple) around 200 BCE

Arsaces was deposed and Phriapatius (191-176 BCE) was made the third king. Phriapatius's son Mithridates (171-132 BCE) would result in Parthia's greatest expansion. Mithridates turned east to conquer Bactria, India and China's neighbour, around 168 BCE. He expanded his territories to include Media, areas of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, Mesopotamia, Seleucia, the capital of Seleucid and Babylon. 

                                         

Parthian king making an offering to god Herakles Verethragna, 2nd-3rd century, Louvre Museum

Mithridates II (124-88 BCE) became one of the greatest Parthian ruler. He added Albania and Armenia and captured the Syrian city of Dura-Europos in the west. With frontiers stretching between the Mediterranean Sea and China, Parthia became very powerful.                                       

                                             

Rock relief of Parthian king at Behistun, likely Vologases III (110-147 AD)

From 70 BCE, the Parthians experienced serious challenges from Rome. They lost Armenia, Albania and Gordyene in northern Mesopotamia. However, in 58 BCE, the Parthians defeated the Romans and by 32 BCE, they regained Armenia,

                                     

Movement of troops during the first two years of the Roman-Parthian War over the kingdom of Armenia                                          

A Parthian (right) wearing a Phrygian cap, depicted as a prisoner of war in chains held by a Roman (left): Arch of Septimius Severus, Rome 203 AD.

 

Key to many a Parthian victories and expansion was the unique use of the horse and the bow. With a hit and run fighting style, Parthia's tactics (including pretending retreat) were well suited to counter the enemy concentrated movements. 

                                            

Parthian horse archer on display at the Palazzo, Madama, Turin

With archers on the fleetest of horses, and camel riders providing a steady supply of arrows, they made sitting ducks of infantry unable to engage except at close range. When the enemy's cavalry gave a chase, the Parthians had an answer. So adept at their lethal craft, they developed the ''Parthian Shot''. Able to shoot backwards from horseback at full gallop. the Parthian archers delivered kill shots at the perusing cavalry. 

The Parthian horsemen were able to come at enemy troops from all directions, creating confusion and wreaking havoc .Finally the heavily armed cavalry (Cataphract) provided offensive support in mopping up pockets of resistance with long lances and swords.

                                            

Parthian cataphract fighting a lion on display at the Palazzo, Madama, Turin

Around 115 AD, the Romans conquered Mesopotamia and looted the capital cities of Seleucia and Ctesiphon. In the east, the Kushan warlord, Kanishka (120-144 BCE) would establish his empire in Bactria, which was once Parthia's easternmost province. Finally, in the 3rd century, after Artabanus IV (213-224 AD) king of Media rebelled against his brother Vologasus VI  (208-213 AD), a precedent was set for a severely weakened Parthia to be entirely overthrown by another rebel king Ardashir, founder of the Sasanian Empire in 224 AD.

Coins of The Parthia Empire

                                          

Mithradates I, Chalkous, 171-138 BC, copper, weight 2.7 gm, Obverse has a head facing left wearing bashlyk and Reverse has a horse walking right, border of pellets above horse, single word retrograde Greek inscription read from inside.

                                             

Mithradates II, AE Dichalkous, 121-91 BC, copper, weight 3.9 gm, Obverse has head of Mithradates II, to left, Reverse has a horse's head surrounded by legend

                                             

Arsaces I, AR Hemidrachm, 247-211 BC, silver, weight 1.9 gm, Obverse has head right, wearing bashlyk, circular border of pallets, Reverse has an archer wearing bashlyk and cloak seated left on backless throne, holding bow in left hand, circular border of pallets 

                                            

Arsaces I, Drachm, 247 BC-211 AD, silver, weight 4.0 gm. Obverse has head left, wearing bashlyk, circular border of pellets and Reverse has an archer wearing bashlyk and cloak seated left on backless throne, holding bow in left hand, monogram below seat, circular border of pellets, below bow a single line Aramaic inscription, behind archer, single word Greek inscription 

                                              

Mithradates I, 171 BC-138 BC, Drachm, silver, weight 3.8 gm, Obverse has a bearded bust left, wearing diadem, circular reel and pellet border and Reverse has a n archer wearing bashlyk  and cloak seated right on omphalos, holding bow in right hand, no border, three line Greek inscription

                                              

Mithradates II, Drachm, 123 BC-88 BC, silver, weight 4.1 gm, Obverse has a long bearded bust left wearing diadem, circular border of pellets and Reverse has a beardless archer wearing bashlyk and cloak seated right on throne, holding bow in right hand, empty cloak arm ending in pellet well below seat, no border, five line Greek inscription

                                               

Phraates III, Drachm, 70 BC-57 BC, silver, weight 4,1 gm, Obverse has a bearded bust left wearing diadem and pellet ended torque, circular border of pellets and Reverse has aa archer wearing bashlyk and cloak, seated right on throne, holding bow in right hand, below bow monogram, seven line Greek inscription 

                                             

Orodes II, Drachm, 57 BC-38 BC, silver, weight 3.7 gm, Obverse has Diademed short-bearded bust left, wearing torque with pellet and star front, crescent behind and Reserve has archer seated right on throne, holding bow, seven line Greek inscription around. 

                                             

Artabanus II, Drachm, 10-38 AD, silver, weight 3.2 gm, Obverse has bust left with square cut beard, wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, straight hair, earing, border of dots and Reverse has archer seated right on throne, in right hand bow, below bow monogram 26, Greek inscription

                                             

Vologases III, Drachm, 105-147 AD, silver, weight 3.7 gm, Obverse has a bare headed bust left with long pointed beard wearing diadem with loop at the top and three ends, earing visible, border of dots and Reverse has archer seated right on throne holding bow, archer's seat represented by horizontal line, blundered Greek legend, monogram below bow.

                                    

                                             

Vardanes I, Tetradrachm, 40 - 47 AD, silver, weight 14.1 gm, Obverse has bust left with pointed beard wearing diadem with loop at the top, hair in four waves, ear covered, wart on brow, Reverse has king seated right on throne, receiving palm from Tyche holding cornucopia, Greek legend

Parthian Empire

Coins of the Parthian Empire