And the king’s wives, royal concubines along with lived within judge and designed section of their entourage

(2) Titles to possess Parthian regal lady. Parthian leaders have been polygamous. One of several low-Parthian people at the king’s judge we find the newest child of Demetrius Nikanor (Justinus, ), who was grabbed adopting the death of Antiochus VI (r. 145-142) and taken to the fresh legal from Mithridates I (roentgen. 171-). One of the international ladies who secured a leading updates on brand new court was Musa (Josephus, Ant. Jud. 18.2.4). Augustus (63 BCE-fourteen Le) delivered brand new Italian woman because good ‘gift’ so you can Phraates IV (roentgen. 38-3/2). She try mom of your own heir into the throne, Phraates V (roentgen. 2 BCE-2 Ce), by age king. A Greek lady (Dio Cass., 62, 63.5; Josephus, Ant. Jud. ; Tac., Ann. ) is named the mother away from Vologeses I (r. 51- CE).

The latest wives away from Parthian leaders try stated inside official records, a habit having started adjusted in the Seleucids (OGIS 219). Its individual names and you will titles appear in Babylonian records of your Parthian several months, and in the fresh Greek files out of Avroman during the Kurdistan. The fresh new king’s spouse exercise new identity “queen” (Bab. sarratu, Gr. basilisse,), because the name “lady” (Bab. beltu) was applied due to the fact a form of address. Greek recommendations so you can regal spouses because the “siblings (of queen) regarding the same father” (Gr. homopatriai adelphai) try understood regarding Avroman documents which speak about Siace (Minns, zero. I: 2-3), the newest spouse and you will sis regarding Mithridates II (roentgen. -), who’s named alongside a couple almost every other wives, “Aryazate surnamed Automa, daughter of Great Queen Tigranes, and his awesome girlfriend” and you will “Azate his compaternal sis and you can partner” (Minns, no. II: 3-5). A cousin-wife is also attested getting Orodes We. Her name is considering for the Babylonian data since the Isbubarza (Strassmeier, p. 112; Potts, p. 392). When you are this type of references indicate an emphasis with the siblings’ popular paternal lineage they allow it to be no findings as to if they descended in the exact same mom, which means on the identity once the full siblings. Besides do we use up all your definitive evidence one Parthians registered incestuous marriages ranging from complete siblings, these reference manage along with perhaps not help us draw people conclusions from the such as for example behavior in the Parthian dynasty.

The newest regal spouses was in fact picked regarding among the ladies people in the latest regal family relations in itself as well as away from Parthian noble household

In most recognized times women are just mentioned once the king’s spouses. A beneficial Babylonian text message says Ri-[x]-nu, the mother from Phraates I (roentgen. 176-171), and most likely the fresh new girlfriend from Mithridates I. 29; Oelsner, pp. 147-8). Each other wives out-of Gotarzes I (r. -), among which is titled Asi’abatum, have been referred to as his “spouses and you may lady” (Bab. assati(?)-su beltu; cf. Strassmeier, p. 112; Minns, p. 34), when you’re Pi-ir(?)-ri-ta good-na beneficial-a great, brand new girlfriend out of Phraates III (r. -), try named his “spouse and you will king” (Bab. assatisu sarratu; cf. Strassmeier, p. 112; Minns, p. 36). Phraates IV had four wives: Olennieire, Cleopatra, Baseirta and you can Bistheibanaps (Minns, p. 30).

As the mom of one’s heir towards throne she took an eminent condition in the legal whenever she acted since regent to sugar daddy meet.com your younger Phraates following king’s demise (Debevoise, p

(3) Situations at judge. Girls people in the fresh king’s family were used since the pawns for the the fresh new organization and you can verification away from governmental associations. This is a habit attested especially between Parthia and you will Armenia , regardless of if seriously political relationships associations together with other principalities of the Parthian empire and taken place. A girl out-of Phraates IV are married in order to Tigranes out of Armenia, and you will Orodes II (roentgen. 58/7-38) affirmed their alliance towards the Armenian king Artavasdes with a married relationship anywhere between their son Pacorus and you may a cousin of one’s Armenian king (Plut., Crass. 33).