Phraates II of Parthia
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Coin of Phraates II from the mint at Seleucia. The reverse shows a seated god (perhaps Sarapis) holding Nike and a cornucopia. The Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ (great king of the Arsacid dynasty, bearer of victory).
King Phraates II of Parthia, son of Mithridates, the conqueror of Babylon, ruled the Parthian Empire from 138–127 BC. He was attacked in 130 BC by Antiochus VII Sidetes, ruler of the Seleucid Empire. Antiochus, however, was defeated and killed in a great battle in Media in 129 BC, which ended the Seleucid rule east of the Euphrates. Meanwhile Parthia was invaded by the Scythians (the Tochari of Bactria), who had helped Antiochus. Phraates marched against them, but was defeated and killed.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.
- Junianus Justinus, Historiarum Philippicarum, xli
Categories: 1911 Britannica | Monarchs of Persia