Under the Arsacids Parthia

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parthian horseman on display @ palazzo madama, turin.



coin of mithridates (r. 171–138 bc). reverse shows heracles, , inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ great king arsaces, friend of greeks .



reproduction of parthian archer depicted on trajan s column.



a sculpted head (broken off larger statue) of parthian soldier wearing hellenistic-style helmet, parthian royal residence , necropolis of nisa, 2nd century bc


from base in parthia, arsacid dynasts extended dominion include of greater iran. established several eponymous branches on thrones of armenia, iberia, , caucasian albania. though arsacids sporadically had capital in parthia, power base there, among parthian feudal families, upon military , financial support arsacids depended. in exchange support, these families received large tracts of land among earliest conquered territories adjacent parthia, parthian nobility ruled provincial rulers. largest of these city-states kuchan, semnan, gorgan, merv, zabol , yazd.


from 105 bc onwards, power , influence of handful of parthian noble families such opposed monarch, , contributory factor in downfall of dynasty.


from 130 bc onwards, parthia suffered numerous incursions various nomadic tribes, including sakas, yueh-chi, , massagetae. each time, arsacid dynasts responded personally, doing when there more severe threats seleucids or romans looming on western borders of empire (as case mithridates i). defending empire against nomads cost phraates ii , artabanus lives.


around 32 bc, civil war broke out when tiridates rebelled against phraates iv, support of nobility phraates had persecuted. revolt successful, failed 25 bc. in 9/8, parthian nobility succeeded in putting preferred king on throne, vonones proved have tight budgetary control, usurped in favor of artabanus ii, seems have been non-arsacid parthian nobleman. when artabanus attempted consolidate position (at successful in instances), failed in regions parthian provincial rulers held sway.


by 2nd century ad, frequent wars neighboring rome , nomads, , infighting among parthian nobility had weakened arsacids point no longer defend subjugated territories. empire fractured vassalaries increasingly claimed independence or subjugated others, , arsacids vanquished persian sassanids, formerly minor vassal southwestern iran, in april 224.








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