Cappadocia - Ariobarzanes III

November 2024

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Silver drachm (52 - 42 B.C.) of Ariobarzanes III (Eusebus Philoromaios). Obverse legend: Anepigraph (none)
Obverse description: Diademed and slightly bearded head of Ariobarzanes III right. Reverse description: Athena Nicephorus standing left, helmeted and draped, holding Nike in right hand and spear in left, leaning on her shield; in the left field, lunisolar symbol
Reverse legend: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΟΒΑΡΖΑΝΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΟΡΩΜΑΙΟΥ
Reverse translation: (from king Ariobarzanes pious and who loves the Romans).
He was of Persian and Greek ancestry. The Roman Senate agreed that he was to be the successor of his father, Ariobarzanes II of Cappadocia; Cicero, Roman governor of Cilicia, noted that he was surrounded by enemies who included his mother, Athenais.
Originally highly supportive of Pompey despite the cost, he was maintained in his position after Julius Caesar won the civil war in Rome, even gaining territory with the addition of Lesser Armenia. The liberator Cassius Longinus had him executed in 42 BC because he would not allow more Roman intervention in his kingdom. He was succeed by his brother, Ariarathes X of Cappadocia.