DOI issue:
I. Artykuly
DOI article:Olbrycht, Marek Jan: Parthian king's tiara: Numismatic evidence and some aspects of Arsacid political ideology
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21229#0041
widespread on Achaemenid reliefs. High-ranking courtiers wore similar,
though much shorter, headgear. In the art of western satrapies (especially
in Asia Minor) and in Greeke tradition (e.g., the so-called Alexander mosaic
at Pompeii), Achaemenids invariably appear in a soft hat probably called
kyrbasia/ KV> a ß «Ola. Similar headdress was worn by satraps and dynasts in
Asia Minor, but the royal kyrbasia was probably much taller and was posi-
tioned vertically.54 According to many scholars, it is the tiara orthe (itdepot
ôpcjyfj) of Greek sources.55 The upright tiara - so it seems - was reserved for
the king himself.56 It seems that Greek authors used the term tiara orthe to
describe both a tall upright kyrbasia and a tall kidaris - thus contributing
to confusion. Apart from kidaris and kyrbasia, the Achaemenids wore
a diadem.57 According to some written records, it was reserved for the
king and his „relatives.”58
Although the question of Achaemenid crowns remains in many respects
unclear, we may conclude that no known form of the official Achaemenid
crown resembles the later Parthian tiara. At first, the Arsacids used the soft
hat known as „satrapa! headgear” (a kind of kyrbasia) combined with a dia-
dem or a diadem alone as a sign of royal authority. The kyrbasia occurs with
Hellenistic rulers of Armenia and Cappadocia and with kings of Persis.59
The Persian diadem as a sign of authority was adopted by Alexander the
Great after Darius Ill’s death. Diadoclies and later Hellenistic rulers fol-
lowed suit.60 * So did Mithradates I of Parthia (approx. 170-138 BC), on who-
se coins - starting from type Sll - a diadem completely replaces a kyrbasia.
54 See j. Borchhardt, Bündnisse achaimenidischer Herrscher, AMI, Erg.-Band 10, 1983,
p. 207ff.
55 So say v. Gall 1974, p. 144ff., and S. Bittner, Tracht und Bewaffnung des persischen
Heeres zur Zeit der Achaimeniden, Munich 1985, p. 193ff. Cf. also v. Gail 1990.
56 See Xenoph. Kyroup. VIII 3.3; Anab. II 5.23. Also cf. the account of Aristophanes
(Aves 487) on the height of the tall kyrbasia. When Bessos declared himself king of Asia,
he wore a tiara orthe (Arr. Anab. Ill 25.3). Similarly, the usurper Baryaxes wore his kidaris
upright (Arr. Anab. VI 29.3).
5/ The question is presented in detail by Ritter 1965, p. 8ff.; idem 1987.
58 Xenoph. Kyroup. VIII 3.13. For details, see v. Gall 1974, p. 155f.; idem 1990,
p. 321ff.; Eilers, Calmeyer 1977, p. 1711. Satraps in Asia Minor also wore diadems. The
king was distinct for the way he had his diadem tied; cf. v. Gall 1990.
59 Cf. Eilers, Calmeyer 1977, p. 177f.; v. Gall 1990, p. 322
60 Ritter 1987. The Persians adopted the diadem from the Medes - Ritter 1965, pp.
14-17.
39
though much shorter, headgear. In the art of western satrapies (especially
in Asia Minor) and in Greeke tradition (e.g., the so-called Alexander mosaic
at Pompeii), Achaemenids invariably appear in a soft hat probably called
kyrbasia/ KV> a ß «Ola. Similar headdress was worn by satraps and dynasts in
Asia Minor, but the royal kyrbasia was probably much taller and was posi-
tioned vertically.54 According to many scholars, it is the tiara orthe (itdepot
ôpcjyfj) of Greek sources.55 The upright tiara - so it seems - was reserved for
the king himself.56 It seems that Greek authors used the term tiara orthe to
describe both a tall upright kyrbasia and a tall kidaris - thus contributing
to confusion. Apart from kidaris and kyrbasia, the Achaemenids wore
a diadem.57 According to some written records, it was reserved for the
king and his „relatives.”58
Although the question of Achaemenid crowns remains in many respects
unclear, we may conclude that no known form of the official Achaemenid
crown resembles the later Parthian tiara. At first, the Arsacids used the soft
hat known as „satrapa! headgear” (a kind of kyrbasia) combined with a dia-
dem or a diadem alone as a sign of royal authority. The kyrbasia occurs with
Hellenistic rulers of Armenia and Cappadocia and with kings of Persis.59
The Persian diadem as a sign of authority was adopted by Alexander the
Great after Darius Ill’s death. Diadoclies and later Hellenistic rulers fol-
lowed suit.60 * So did Mithradates I of Parthia (approx. 170-138 BC), on who-
se coins - starting from type Sll - a diadem completely replaces a kyrbasia.
54 See j. Borchhardt, Bündnisse achaimenidischer Herrscher, AMI, Erg.-Band 10, 1983,
p. 207ff.
55 So say v. Gall 1974, p. 144ff., and S. Bittner, Tracht und Bewaffnung des persischen
Heeres zur Zeit der Achaimeniden, Munich 1985, p. 193ff. Cf. also v. Gail 1990.
56 See Xenoph. Kyroup. VIII 3.3; Anab. II 5.23. Also cf. the account of Aristophanes
(Aves 487) on the height of the tall kyrbasia. When Bessos declared himself king of Asia,
he wore a tiara orthe (Arr. Anab. Ill 25.3). Similarly, the usurper Baryaxes wore his kidaris
upright (Arr. Anab. VI 29.3).
5/ The question is presented in detail by Ritter 1965, p. 8ff.; idem 1987.
58 Xenoph. Kyroup. VIII 3.13. For details, see v. Gall 1974, p. 155f.; idem 1990,
p. 321ff.; Eilers, Calmeyer 1977, p. 1711. Satraps in Asia Minor also wore diadems. The
king was distinct for the way he had his diadem tied; cf. v. Gall 1990.
59 Cf. Eilers, Calmeyer 1977, p. 177f.; v. Gall 1990, p. 322
60 Ritter 1987. The Persians adopted the diadem from the Medes - Ritter 1965, pp.
14-17.
39