(2) Headings to possess Parthian royal people. Parthian leaders was indeed polygamous. One of many low-Parthian girls within king’s legal we find brand new child out-of Demetrius Nikanor (Justinus, ), who was simply caught following death of Antiochus VI (roentgen. 145-142) and you can brought to brand new legal away from Mithridates I (roentgen. 171-). Among foreign women that safeguarded a top updates at the the latest legal was Musa (Josephus, Ant. Jud. 18.dos.4). Augustus (63 BCE-14 Ce) delivered the new Italian girl as the a great ‘gift’ to Phraates IV (r. 38-3/2). She are the caretaker of one’s heir into the throne, Phraates V (r. dos BCE-2 Le), and by elizabeth queen. A Greek lady (Dio Cass., 62, 63.5; Josephus, Ant. Jud. ; Tac., Ann. ) is known as the caretaker off Vologeses We (r. 51- CE).

New spouses out-of Parthian kings is said from inside the authoritative files, a habit which have already been adjusted regarding the Seleucids (OGIS 219). Its private labels and you can titles come in Babylonian data of your Parthian period, and also in the fresh Greek documents of Avroman in Kurdistan. This new king’s partner drill the fresh new name “queen” (Bab. sarratu, Gr. basilisse,), given that label “lady” (Bab. beltu) was applied since the a form of target. Greek recommendations in order to regal spouses as “sisters (of king) about same father” (Gr. homopatriai adelphai) try identified about Avroman documents hence mention Siace (Minns, zero. I: 2-3), the brand new partner and you may cousin out of Mithridates II (roentgen. -), who’s titled near to two most other spouses, “Aryazate surnamed Automa, girl of your own High Queen Tigranes, and his awesome partner” and you may “Azate his compaternal sis and you will spouse” (Minns, zero. II: 3-5). A cousin-spouse is even attested to have Orodes I. The girl name’s considering into the Babylonian files because the Isbubarza (Strassmeier, p. 112; Potts, p. 392). Whenever you are such records indicate an emphasis to your siblings’ well-known paternal lineage they ensure it is zero findings about whether they descended regarding exact same mother, and therefore on their character while the complete siblings. Just will we use up all your conclusive proof one Parthians entered incestuous marriage ceremonies anywhere between full sisters, these tinder web site do in addition to maybe not allow us to draw people results on for example behavior from inside the Parthian dynasty.

The newest regal spouses have been picked out-of one of several lady members of new regal household members itself and additionally from Parthian noble household

In most understood times ladies are only mentioned given that king’s wives. Good Babylonian text mentions Ri-[x]-nu, mom away from Phraates I (roentgen. 176-171), and probably this new spouse away from Mithridates I. 29; Oelsner, pp. 147-8). One another spouses away from Gotarzes I (roentgen. -), one of exactly who try entitled Asi’abatum, had been also known as their “spouses and you can people” (Bab. assati(?)-su beltu; cf. Strassmeier, p. 112; Minns, p. 34), while you are Pi-ir(?)-ri-ta beneficial-na good-a, brand new girlfriend of Phraates III (roentgen. -), is actually entitled his “girlfriend and you will queen” (Bab. assatisu sarratu; cf. Strassmeier, p. 112; Minns, p. 36). Phraates IV got five wives: Olennieire, Cleopatra, Baseirta and Bistheibanaps (Minns, p. 30).

As the mother of your own heir towards throne she took an eminent standing at the courtroom when she acted due to the fact regent into younger Phraates adopting the king’s dying (Debevoise, p

(3) Points in the courtroom. Girls people in the fresh new king’s members of the family were used because pawns in the the latest place and you can verification away from political associations. It was a practice attested particularly between Parthia and you will Armenia , no matter if surely political relationship associations along with other principalities of your Parthian kingdom plus occurred. A daughter off Phraates IV is partnered to Tigranes off Armenia, and you may Orodes II (r. 58/7-38) affirmed their alliance on the Armenian queen Artavasdes having a marriage ranging from their child Pacorus and you will a cousin of one’s Armenian queen (Plut., Crass. 33).