DOI Artikel:
Kalita, Stanisław: The coins of Diodotus of Bactria and the problem of dating the Bactrian secession
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21230#0052
Bactrianarum praefectus, defecit regemąue se appellari iussit, quod
exemplum secuti totius Orientis populi a Macedonibus defecere. Erat eo
tempore Arsaces, vir sicut incertae originis, ita virtutis expertae. Hic solitus
latrociniis et rapto vivere accepta opinione Seleucum a Gallis in Asia
yictum,1 solutus regis metu, cum praedonum manu Parthos2 ingressus
praefectum eorum Andragoram oppressit sublatoąue eo imperium gentis
invasit.
Arsaces is said to have remained in hostile relations with both Seleucus
and Diodotus, but after the latter's death he concluded an alliance with
his son, who also bore the name Diodotus.
At the conclusion of the chapter, the Roman writer informs us that
...ner multo post cum Seleuco rege ad defectores perseąuendos veniente con-
gressus nictor fuit; ąuem diem Parthi exinde solemnem velut initium libertatis ob-
servant?
The events described byjustin find confirmation in the numismatic
materiał coming from Bactria. The coins emitted in this satrapy during
the time of Diodotus I reflect the process by which this province was
gradually transformed into an independent kingdom.
Numismatists know of three groups of coins associated with the name
Diodotus. The first group consists of silver coins struck by the satrap of
Bactria in the name of Antiochus II, with a portrait of the Seleucid
on the obverse, and an image of Apollo, the patron god of the ru-
ling dynasty, on the reverse. The second group is characterized by the
appearance of the portrait of a completely different person (assumed
to be Diodotus) on the obverse, and an image of Zeus on the reverse.
The legend continues to name Antiochus. Finally, the third group con-
sists of coins struck on the model of the second group, but with an al-
tered legend, containing the name of Diodotus associated with the royal
title.
A serious interpretational problem is posed by the fact that the last
1 This refers to the catastrophic defeat inflicted on Seleucus II by Gallic mecenaries,
hired by his brother, Antiochus Hierax, during the " War of the Brothers" (239-236 BC); see
Justin 26.2.
2 Justin is probably thinking here of the inhabitants of the province of Parthia, not of
the tribesmen of Arsaces, known as the Parni, and only later, after the Arsacid state had
been founded, called Parthians.
3 Justin 41.4.
52
exemplum secuti totius Orientis populi a Macedonibus defecere. Erat eo
tempore Arsaces, vir sicut incertae originis, ita virtutis expertae. Hic solitus
latrociniis et rapto vivere accepta opinione Seleucum a Gallis in Asia
yictum,1 solutus regis metu, cum praedonum manu Parthos2 ingressus
praefectum eorum Andragoram oppressit sublatoąue eo imperium gentis
invasit.
Arsaces is said to have remained in hostile relations with both Seleucus
and Diodotus, but after the latter's death he concluded an alliance with
his son, who also bore the name Diodotus.
At the conclusion of the chapter, the Roman writer informs us that
...ner multo post cum Seleuco rege ad defectores perseąuendos veniente con-
gressus nictor fuit; ąuem diem Parthi exinde solemnem velut initium libertatis ob-
servant?
The events described byjustin find confirmation in the numismatic
materiał coming from Bactria. The coins emitted in this satrapy during
the time of Diodotus I reflect the process by which this province was
gradually transformed into an independent kingdom.
Numismatists know of three groups of coins associated with the name
Diodotus. The first group consists of silver coins struck by the satrap of
Bactria in the name of Antiochus II, with a portrait of the Seleucid
on the obverse, and an image of Apollo, the patron god of the ru-
ling dynasty, on the reverse. The second group is characterized by the
appearance of the portrait of a completely different person (assumed
to be Diodotus) on the obverse, and an image of Zeus on the reverse.
The legend continues to name Antiochus. Finally, the third group con-
sists of coins struck on the model of the second group, but with an al-
tered legend, containing the name of Diodotus associated with the royal
title.
A serious interpretational problem is posed by the fact that the last
1 This refers to the catastrophic defeat inflicted on Seleucus II by Gallic mecenaries,
hired by his brother, Antiochus Hierax, during the " War of the Brothers" (239-236 BC); see
Justin 26.2.
2 Justin is probably thinking here of the inhabitants of the province of Parthia, not of
the tribesmen of Arsaces, known as the Parni, and only later, after the Arsacid state had
been founded, called Parthians.
3 Justin 41.4.
52