DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45399#0031
THE PARTHIAN COINAGE.
21
But there are, in a few instances, even on the copper coins which are of the most thoroughly
Parthian type, images of some of the great Greek divinities. Pallas, or an armed female
deity undistinguishable from Pallas, occurs in the reigns os Phraates IV., Goterzes, and Volo-
geses II. Artemis makes her appearance under Goterzes. Zeus, or a deity who holds eagle
and sceptre, the attributes os the great God, is found on the coins which I give to Vardanes II.
A head which might well be that of Apollo, in his character as Sun-God, occurs in the reigns
of Phraates IV. and Goterzes. The Boman deities Janus and JEquitas or Nemesis are also
portrayed under Phraates. Besides these well-known Greek and R,oman types, occur others
which would seem to be Greek, but are of a more obscure nature; a male winged genius, who
holds a bunch of grapes under Phraates IV. and Artabanus III., and a male figure, probably
Harpocrates, who holds cornucopise and raises his hand to his head, under Vardanes I. Herakles,
Zeus and the Dioscuri are found on the coins of Greek fabric minted under Mithradates I.
The caduceus, which is not uncommon on the Parthian money, would seem to belong to Nike
or Eirene rather than to Hermes; and the Sphinx was probably associated with worship in
general rather than the cultus of a special deity.
From this slight summary of facts it will appear that we have some grounds for supposing
that the worship of some Greek deities, Pallas in particular, was officially recognized by the
Parthians, and perhaps mingled by them with their other religion. Such worship would
seem to have been more savoured in the reigns of Phraates IV. and Goterzes, which reigns,
indeed, are notable for innovations of all kinds. It never took any deep root so' far to the East.
The frequency with which the turreted female figures which represent the Greek cities
of Eastern Asia appear, and the importance of the part which they play upon the tetra-
drachms, where they meet the King on equal terms, and he is proud to receive their homage,
indicate the nature of the position held by the large cities subject to Parthia. The Parthian
horsemen were never much at home within city walls, and were exceedingly unfitted to besiege
fortified places. Seleucia, when it revolted, defied for years the whole force of the Parthian
Empire when at its zenith. Hence throughout Parthian history the great cities of Babylonia,
Susiana and the East enjoyed a qualified independence. They probably managed their internal
affairs themselves, and were not interfered with so long as the tribute which was exacted from
them was duly paid. Thus, in a.d. 40, at Seleucia, the Greek and Syrian elements of the
population, combining together, overcame the Jews, and massacred 50,000 of them, apparently
without the least interference from the Parthians, and without suffering any sort of punishment.
It was the support afforded by these semi-independent Greek cities which enabled the Seleucid
Syrian Kings to penetrate so easily and so far into Asia. To the Boman invaders they offered
quite another reception; preferring the distant rule of a Phil-TIellenic barbarian to the ever-
present tyranny of a Boman praetor.
With regard to the portraits of the Kings, one point is worthy of note. There is usually
but slight difference between the representations of a king in the early years of his reign and
those executed in his later years. His likeness was, so to speak, stereotyped as soon as he
21
But there are, in a few instances, even on the copper coins which are of the most thoroughly
Parthian type, images of some of the great Greek divinities. Pallas, or an armed female
deity undistinguishable from Pallas, occurs in the reigns os Phraates IV., Goterzes, and Volo-
geses II. Artemis makes her appearance under Goterzes. Zeus, or a deity who holds eagle
and sceptre, the attributes os the great God, is found on the coins which I give to Vardanes II.
A head which might well be that of Apollo, in his character as Sun-God, occurs in the reigns
of Phraates IV. and Goterzes. The Boman deities Janus and JEquitas or Nemesis are also
portrayed under Phraates. Besides these well-known Greek and R,oman types, occur others
which would seem to be Greek, but are of a more obscure nature; a male winged genius, who
holds a bunch of grapes under Phraates IV. and Artabanus III., and a male figure, probably
Harpocrates, who holds cornucopise and raises his hand to his head, under Vardanes I. Herakles,
Zeus and the Dioscuri are found on the coins of Greek fabric minted under Mithradates I.
The caduceus, which is not uncommon on the Parthian money, would seem to belong to Nike
or Eirene rather than to Hermes; and the Sphinx was probably associated with worship in
general rather than the cultus of a special deity.
From this slight summary of facts it will appear that we have some grounds for supposing
that the worship of some Greek deities, Pallas in particular, was officially recognized by the
Parthians, and perhaps mingled by them with their other religion. Such worship would
seem to have been more savoured in the reigns of Phraates IV. and Goterzes, which reigns,
indeed, are notable for innovations of all kinds. It never took any deep root so' far to the East.
The frequency with which the turreted female figures which represent the Greek cities
of Eastern Asia appear, and the importance of the part which they play upon the tetra-
drachms, where they meet the King on equal terms, and he is proud to receive their homage,
indicate the nature of the position held by the large cities subject to Parthia. The Parthian
horsemen were never much at home within city walls, and were exceedingly unfitted to besiege
fortified places. Seleucia, when it revolted, defied for years the whole force of the Parthian
Empire when at its zenith. Hence throughout Parthian history the great cities of Babylonia,
Susiana and the East enjoyed a qualified independence. They probably managed their internal
affairs themselves, and were not interfered with so long as the tribute which was exacted from
them was duly paid. Thus, in a.d. 40, at Seleucia, the Greek and Syrian elements of the
population, combining together, overcame the Jews, and massacred 50,000 of them, apparently
without the least interference from the Parthians, and without suffering any sort of punishment.
It was the support afforded by these semi-independent Greek cities which enabled the Seleucid
Syrian Kings to penetrate so easily and so far into Asia. To the Boman invaders they offered
quite another reception; preferring the distant rule of a Phil-TIellenic barbarian to the ever-
present tyranny of a Boman praetor.
With regard to the portraits of the Kings, one point is worthy of note. There is usually
but slight difference between the representations of a king in the early years of his reign and
those executed in his later years. His likeness was, so to speak, stereotyped as soon as he