Index: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Home > Kommagene
The small kingdom of Kommagene (lat Commagene) in northern ancient Syria (modern south-central Turkey) bounded by Cilicia on the west and Cappadocia on the north arose in 162 BC, when the governor Ptolemy broke free from the disintegrating Seleucid Empire. His dynasty was related to the Parthian kings, but his descendant Mithradates Callinicus ( 100 - 69 BC), embraced the hellenistic culture and married Laodice, a Seleucid princess, thus claiming dynastical ties with both Alexander the Great and the Persian kings. Their son Antiochus Theos ( 69 - 40 BC) supported Pompey against the Parthians, and in 64 BC was rewarded with additional territories. He was able to deflect Roman attacks from Marcus Antonius, whom he eventually joined in the Roman civil war, but after Antony's defeat to AugustusAugustus (plural Augusti is Latin for "majestic" or "venerable". Although the use of the cognomen "Augustus" as part of one's name is generally understood to identify the Roman Emperor, this is somewhat misleading; "Augustus" was the most significant name, Kommagene was made a Roman client-state. In AD 17Alternate uses, see Number 17 Centuries: 1st century BC 1st century 2nd century Decades: 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC 0s BC 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s Years: 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Events Tiberius deposes Antiochus III of Kommagene and appoints Gnaeus C TiberiusTiberius Claudius Nero Caesar ( November 16, 42 BC March 16, AD 37) was the second Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from AD 14 until his death. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian—son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia—and was the adopted deposed Antiochus III, but CaligulaGaius Julius Caesar Germanicus ( August 31, AD 12 January 24, AD 41), also known as Gaius Caesar or Caligula was the third Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from AD 37 to 41. Known for his extremely extravagant, eccentric, and sometimes reinstated his son Antiochus IV EpiphanesAntiochus IV of Kommagene was made king of Kommagene by Caligula, who deposed him almost immediately. Restored by Claudius in 41, he reigned until 72 as an ally of Rome against Parthia. That year he was deposed on suspicion of treason and retired Rome. who reigned until 72Alternate uses, see Number 72 Centuries: 1st century BC 1st century 2nd century Decades: 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s 120s Years: 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 Events Antiochus IV of Syria is deposed by Vespasian. Vespasian and Titus are R, when VespasianCaesar Vespasianus Augustus ( November 18, AD 9 June 23, 79), originally known as Titus Flavius Vespasianus and best known as Vespasian was the emperor of Rome from 69 to 79. He was founder of the Flavian dynasty and acceded the throne in the end of the Y deposed the dynasty. Their descendants lived on prosperously in Greece, where local benefactor Julius Antiochus Philopappus still has a monument in Athen.Kommagene is famous for its sanctuary located in Nemrud Mountain ( Nemrud DagiNemrud Dagi (also known as Nemrut Dagi, Mount Nemrud, and/or Mount Nemrut) is a 2,150 meter high mountain near the Ankar mountains in southeastern Turkey. At the top of Nemrud Dagi, King Antiochus Theos of Commagene built his tomb-sanctuary along with hug), an enormous complex on a mountain-top founded by Antiochus Theos featuring giant statues of the king (whose epithet means God), surrounded by gods. The location of Antiochus' tomb is one of the mysteries of archeology and recent research has revealed that on the peak of Nemrud Mountain close to the mausoleum there are some cavities that could hold the tomb of the king. Nemrud is a testament to hellenistic syncretism at its peak, each god being a synthesis of classical Greek and Persian gods (f.i. Apollo-Mithras-Helios) and was meant to be no less than the "home of the gods", making Kommagene and its kings a spiritual center for the Middle East. The statues were however destroyed by the Romans, and the sanctuary fell into oblivion, being rediscovered only in the 19th century and now a site of utmost interest for archaelogists.
Commagene is already mentioned in Assyrian texts as Kummuhu, it was normally an ally, but annexed as province in 708 BC under Sargon II of Assyria.
See also: List of Kings of Kommagene
Ancient Roman enemies and allies
Former countries
Read more »