Ancient civilizations-2

Mithradates I

Parthian military, political, and economic power expanded considerably following the accession of Mithradates I. The king began with an attack on the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, which at the time was going through a period of weakness; then he turned against the west and declared himself independent of the Seleucids. To show his complete independence—he was the first of the Parthian sovereigns to do so—he began issuing coins bearing his likeness wearing a royal diadem like the Seleucid kings. On the reverse side was a representation of Arsaces, ancestor of the Parthian dynasty, seated on an omphalos (hemispheric altar) and holding a bow, in imitation of Seleucid coins that showed Apollo in the same way, as the ancestor of the Seleucids.

The Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes took action against Mithradates but was killed at Tabae (or Gabae, probably present Eṣfahān). His death brought about a widespread dislocation of the Macedonian kingdom, which crumbled into several smaller states. Toward 160 bc the power to unite most of the high satrapies and other eastern satrapies could come only from the Parthians, who under Mithradates began the assault. They occupied Media in 155, which opened the route to Mesopotamia. In 148–147 Mithradates reached Ecbatana, where he moved his capital. Rhagae was “refounded” and given the dynastic name of Arsacia, and in 141 Mithradates took Seleucia on the Tigris and was recognized king of Babylonia. His forces conquered Susiana and Elymais, either at this time or after 139. In 141 he was obliged to leave Hyrcania for his eastern possessions, which were evidently being menaced by hostile movements of the nomads. There he spent the remaining three years of his reign.

The Seleucid king Demetrius II, probably aware of Mithradates’ difficulties in the east, undertook an effort to recover Mesopotamia, but after a few successes he suffered defeat and was taken prisoner (139 bc). He was sent to Hyrcania and was married there to a daughter of Mithradates, who by this union became related to the house of Seleucus. The army of Demetrius included Greco-Bactrian and Elymaian troops—which is understandable—as well as men from Persis, or Persians, who by their cooperation with the Macedonians seem to indicate their opposition to the expansionism of the Parthians, whom they considered foreigners and conquerors. Iran under the Parthians was an empire but not yet a nation.