Elymais

[Euklid]

Elymais were a people who were subject to Parthian control from 200 BC to 200 AD, and was the name of the region they inhabited (roughly corresponding to the region named Susiana). It was reportedly these people were great archers and natives of Susa, which lies to the east of Elymais territory. It is not known if they where the descendants of the Elemites, who once had control of that area in the past, or what there relationship is with other cultures. Nothing is known of their language, even though "Elamite" was still used by the Achaemenid Empire 400 years before the Elymais came into existence.

Coinage

The coins depicted a king, it isn't known whether this was a Parthian king or a local ruler as such information hasn't come to light through any means. But these coins were based on Greek standards, of debased Drachms and Tetradrachms. The royal picture is generally based on "Parthian" coinage, usually with an anchor with star in crescent figure, but the reverse has only horizontal lines (this has led numismatists to believe that the engravers didn't know Greek or copied from coins whose writing was already unintelligible)[1].

The Kings

* Kamnaskires I Soter (ca. 147 BC)
* Kamnaskires II Nikephoros (ca. 145–139 BC)
* Okkonapses (ca 139 BC)
* Tigraios (138/37–133/32 BC)
* Kamnaskires III (82/81–75 BC)
* Kamnaskires IV (62/61 or 59/58 BC and 56/55 BC)
* Kamnaskires V and successors (36/35 BC)
* Orodes I (first half of the first century AD)
* Orodes II (second half of the first century AD)
* Kamnaskires-Orodes III (second half of the second century AD)
* Phraates (end of the first century or beginning of the second century AD)
* Oroes (?) (second century AD)

See Also Elam

From Elymais

[Euklid]

Coins



Editors Note:

Many students of ancient history make the mistake of limiting themselves to the great states of Greece and Rome. The ancient world was, however, also home to a number of minor civilizations. Some of these nearly have escaped the notice of history; some left only slight evidence that they ever existed. When that evidence is in the form of coins, numismatists take notice. Such is Elymais: a kingdom which occupied a space between Babylonia and Persis.

Elymais was ruled by a king who was subordinate to the Parthian 'King of Kings'. Written history on Elymais is almost non-existent (one sentence by Lucian mentions a king named Kamnaskires) but we have dozens of varieties of coins spanning the last two centuries BC and the first two centuries AD. Most coins show an anchor (recalling their association with the Seleucid Empire) and a star in crescent (symbol of the Achaemenids). The earliest of these coins are quite rare but the later silver plated bronze coins are well within the reach of most collectors. Shown below are a few examples of these coins.
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Coins

*Alram_455 Kingdom of Elymais, Kamnaskires III, with Anzaze. Circa 82-75 BC. AR Drachm. Conjoined busts left of Kamnaskires & Queen Anzaze; / Zeus seated left, holding scepter & Nike, who crowns him; monogram in inner left field; [?]LS (date) to inner right.


*Alram_460 Kingdom of Elymais, Kamnaskires IV. Circa 62-55 BC. AR Obol (8mm, 0.54 gm). Diademed bust left; anchor symbol behind / Zeus seated left, holding Nike & scepter.

*Alram_465 Elymais, Kings of. Kamnaskires V? Circa 36/35 BC. AR Hemidrachm (1.70 gm). Diademed bust left / Small diademed bust (Kamnaskires VI?) right.

*BMC 2 Kings of Elymais, Kamnaskires IV. Circa 62-55 BC. AR Drachm. Diademed bust left / Zeus seated left, holding Nike & scepter; G-monogram in inner left field.

* BMC 5 Kingdom of Elymais, Uncertain King Billon Drachm. Late 1st century BC-early 1st century AD. Diademed bust left; behind, seven-pointed star above anchor symbol / Diademed bust left, degraded legend.

*BMC 10 Kingdom of Elymais, Kamnaskires V. Circa mid-late 1st century BC. Billon Obol (8mm, 0.59 gm). Diademed bust left / Diademed bust left.

* BMC 14 Kingdom of Elymais, Uncertain King. Late 1st century BC-early 1st century AD. Æ Tetradrachm (29mm, 15.94 gm). Diademed bust left; behind, four-pointed star in crescent above pellet & anchor symbol / Crude diademed bust left, degraded legend.

*BMC 15cf Kingdom of Elymais. Uncertain King. Late 1st century BC-early 1st century AD. Billon Tetradrachm (27mm, 13.86 gm). Diademed bust left; behind, four-pointed star in crescent above anchor symbol / Crude diademed bust left, degraded legend.

*Kamnaskires_AR Drachm Elymais, Kings of. Kamnaskires II, Nikephoros. Circa 145-139 BC. AR Drachm. Diademed & draped bust right / BASILEWS MEGALOU right, KAMISKEIROU NIKHFOROU left, cult statue of Artemis left, in polos & holding scepter.

* SGI_5885 Elymais, Kamnaskires V (?) AR Drachm. Diademed, draped bust left with long beard, * above anchor behind. / Greek legend, male bust left.

* SGI_5888 Elymais Kingdom, Kamnaskires VI, c. 100 AD, AE tetradrachm, (15.51g) Diademed and draped bust left, crescent, star and anchor behind. / pattern of dashes and dots.

* SGI_5889 Elymais, Kamnaskires VI (?) Billon Tetradrachm. Late 1st - early 2nd Century AD. Diademed and draped bust left, with long beard and wide fringe of hair below diadem, * within crescent above anchor behind / Badly blundered Greek legend.

* SGI_5892 Kingdom of Elymais, Orodes I AE Drachm. ca 100 AD. Bust left, with long beard and wearing diademed tiara ornamented with anchor. Pellet within crescent above anchor with one bar, to right / bust of Artemis right.


from: Elymais - Ancient Greek Coins - WildWinds.com

See also Perseus Project

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Elymais from Snible

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Coins of Elymais

[PhiliptheUniterchaeronea]

That's really interesting Euklid. Thanks.

[Spartan]

It seems to me that they were probably a lesser known Greek-Persian or something else kingdom. Don't some of their names sound Greek? Also that region during that time period was still dominated by Greeks, especially the 3rd and 2nd centuries B.C.E. I also notice some Greek letters on those coins and not just "lines" as stated in the article. (E, Lamda, Z)

It is really strange that these people would not have known Greek!? C'mon we had the Seleucid dynasty in the area as well as Greek being the main trade language. Sound fishy to me. It seems that some archaeologist have decided to make a name for themselves and have tried to create a seperate culture within Greek influence areas that had no connection to Greece. I would really like to see some more on them.

[Euklid]

You are welcome Phillip, i was just browsing wiki and came to it by accident, it is quite interesting, indeed.