A War Between Brothers, or Keeping It All in the Family

We are certainly living through tumultuous times, with covid-19 posing as the latest threat to our health and well-being. Of course, history is full of countless conflicts and disasters falling upon past civilizations. Here's one conflict, dating to the first century BCE.

Orodes II was the son of Phraates III . In 57 BCE he and his elder brother, Mithridates IV, murdered Phraates III. What ensued was a power struggle between the brothers for the throne. The conflict came to a head in 54 BCE, when Orodes II, through his able general, Surena, who laid siege on Seleucia. Mithridates IV eventually was forced into a decisive battle which ended in his defeat and death.

For more information on this chapter in Parthian and Roman history, here's a link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orodes_II

I recently acquired, through Roma, as a post-auction lot, this interesting tetradrachm of Orodes II. This coin depicts the profile of Orodes II on the obverse, with a rather severe (and satisfied?) expression. On the reverse, Tyche is kneeling before Orodes II, symbolizing the submission of Seleucia to his rule as the king of Parthia. As is typical of Parthian tetradrachms, the reverse has extensive legends, both horizontal and vertical.

This coin also shows signs of being over-struck on an earlier tetradrachm, probably one issued by Mithridates IV. I have read that Orodes II, after conquering Seleucia, ordered the complete obliteration of his brother's coinage through re-striking them with his image. Evidence of the under-coin can be seen at 12 o'clock on the reverse in the form of very weak letters. I can make out a "Y" and what is probably a "V". The obverse also shows signs of over-strike in the form of irregular field in front of the portrait, as well as a crack running through the portrait, probably the result of re-striking without sufficient heat to make the metal more elastic.

I have had no luck locating a tetradrachm of Mithridates IV (S 41). Do they exist?

Do you have other examples of fratricidal conflicts?

Thanks




Kings of Parthia, Orodes II AR Tetradrachm. Seleukia on the Tigris, 57-38 BC. Diademed and draped bust left / King enthroned right, Tyche kneeling before him, holding sceptre; monogram above, [letters] in exergue. Sellwood 45.3-8. 13.10g, 27mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Rare.

 

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Nice coin. Geta and Caracalla come to mind, and we all know how that turned out. As well as Constans, Constantine II, and Constantius II, none of whom were exemplars of fraternal affection.

I have two coins of Caracalla to show:

 

Yes, Caracalla, and Caligula who had Tiberius murdered (suffocated in bed, as described in I Claudius). He then went on, as emperor, murder numerous others.

 

This is my coin of Orodes II, it is rather nice with the deer, but the portrait is worn.



Orodes II (57-38). Tetrachalkous. Obv. Bust to the left. Rev. Deer with large antlers, monogramme top left and lower right. Mint Rhagae. 16 mm, 4.00 gr. Sellwood 45.39 var. (with monogramme, but see Parthia.com for this uncommon type).

 

Nice coin, @robinjojo .

I have one coin from the Ekbatana Mint... This is the guy who defeated Marcus Licinius Crassus (Roman Triumvir with Pompey and Caesar, who was at the time the richest man in Rome) and supposedly had poured molten gold down his gullet by Orodes II.


PARTHIA Orodes II 57-37BC AR Drachm 18mm 3.3g - Crassus gold - Ekbatana mint stars crsnt Arsakes on throne bow anchor Sellwd48.9

 

Very cool. I have not seen too many AE’s.

 

..never heard that before...

 

I, Claudius... conjecture that Caligula helped deathbed Tiberius on his way with a pillow over his face... Now that is befitting for two gawdawful lechers!

 

How awful!
I am sure Marcus Licinius Crassus must have found that act difficult to swallow!

 

..ah, thanks for the enlightenment, ole' friend!

 

Tiberius was a nasty piece of work in his later years as well.

According to I Claudius Livia did not get enough (or any) credit administering the empire during the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius. Ancient sexism to be sure.

 

Lol, good one.

Crassus got his just and deserved reward! He made his wealth during the proscriptions by snapping up land and estates at artificially and severely depressed prices, and was at constant lust for wealth at the expense of others. Since he was a Triumvir with Pompey and Caesar, HE wanted military glory. He was a pig. Well, THAT did not happen when he picked a fight with the Parthians... I believe it was not until Augustus that Rome finally got the Legionary Standards back.

 

Actually, Roman and Greek sexism. The Celts did not act that way.

 

Yes, bloody, murderous times they were.

Claudius escaped becoming a victim during the reign of Tiberius due to the view that he was feeble minded. In fact he was a highly learned man and a prolific writer of histories.

According to I Claudius, Claudius was on Caligula's list for execution. He was saved by the assassination of Caligula, and he subsequently became emperor.

 

True.

Even in Athens, our model for democracy, women were denied political freedom and they could not participate in the Athenian Assembly. Also slavery was widespread.

 

I have often wondered, “What if the Celts defeated the Romans, and stopped their advance into the lands north of the Med.”

 

We might not ever had this:

 

I don't collect Parthian coins, there are too many Greek and Roman coins of which I have interest. However, in my recent readings, the author explained that the dynasty of Arsaces made a point of emphasizing their facial abnormalities by showing a large wart-like growth on the head. Your coin seems to show just that.

Artaxerxes I was known as "longhand" since his right hand was a good deal longer than the left. Modern scientists call the condition neurofibromatosis - a genetic problem which renders the victim prone to limb gigantism and wart-like tumors.

It seems that the Parthian monarchs would seek to emphasize the disfigurement in order to strengthen the claim to kinship with an ancient line of kings

 

Cool info. I had no clue. I wondered why the emphasized the Royal Wart on many of their Shahs.