Mithridates of Pergamum – a Known and Unknown Ruler
Saprykin Sergey Yu.
The article offers a comprehensive study of the life and political activity of Mithridates of Pergamum, whose political rise as a friend of Caesar and Rome occurred between the Alexandrian war and the battle at Zela in 47 BC when Caesar fought with Pharnaces II. The chronology of his life can now be constructed more precisely with the help of a golden stater, discovered in the course of archaeological investigations on the site of Artesian in East Crimea. This unique coin was minted at Pergamum and bears a portrait of Mithridates of Pergamum in the image of a Roman noble, his royal title, name and the year ГМ = 43 = 46 BC which, in the author’s view, indicates the Pergamene “liberation” era of Mithridates VI Eupator, used also on the latter’s coins struck at Pergamum in 89– 85 BC. The use of this era on the coin of Mithridates of Pergamum was motivated by his claim to be a descendant of the great Pontic king. The reverse of the coin with a great deal of probability gives a head of Deiotarus the Elder with lituus, symbol of his interest in the Roman augures. Deiotarus was the predecessor of Mithridates of Pergamum on the throne of the Galatian Trocmi and presumably of the whole Galatia. The year 46 BC – the year of the third consulate of Caesar – is also marked on the coin in the ligature ΥΓ = ὕπατος Γ, i.e. “consul for the third time”. In 46 BC the Roman dictator proclaimed Mithridates the king of the Trocmi (and arguably of the whole Galatia), and the king of Bosporus and other countries (evidently the part of the coast between Pharnacia and Trapezous along with Colchis) and gave him an opportunity to start a campaign against Asander who usurped power in Bosporus in 47 BC. The date on Mithridates’ commemorative coin – 46 BC – allows to establish the date of this military venture, defeat and death of Mithridates of Pergamum more precisely: it happened not earlier than the late 46 – early 45 BC. After his victory, probably in a sea battle, Asander started minting coins with naval symbols in commemoration of his victory over Mithridates, while Caesar had refused to recognize him as king of Bosporus.
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