Mathianes, Son of Zaidaros, His Anonymous Son, and New Spotlights on Queen Dynamis of the Bosporus

Abstract

Two inscriptions naming a certain Mathianes can shed new light on the history of the Bosporus under Queen Dynamis (47/21 BC–AD 7/8). His tombstone depicts him mounted on a horse with a spear, probably hunting. The epitaph (SEG XLV 1018) names basilissa Dynamis as the one who commissioned the tomb. Since she is men-tioned without her epithet Philorhomaios, we can date Mathianes’ death during her first sole reign, 17/6–14 BC, perhaps even in a combat with Polemon. An honorific decree from Tanais is dedicated to his son, whose name is lost (SEG XLV 1023). While previ-ous scholars dated the inscription to the mid- or late-1st century AD, the genealogical link with Mathianes as well as the fragmentary epithet of the anonymous king allows us to date the decree to the short rule of [Polemon Eu]sebes Philokaisar kai Philorhomaios (14–12/8 BC). This benefactor seems to have played a central role in assuaging the king after the Tanaitai had resisted him and thus suffered substantial damage (Str. 11.2.3 [493C]).

Keywords

• Mathianes son of Zaidaros
• King Mithradates VI Eupator
• King Pharnakes II
• King Asandros Philorhomaios
• King Scribonius Mithradates
• King Aspurgos Philokaisar kai Philorhomaios
• Queen Dynamis Philorhomaios
• King Polemon I Eusebes Philokaisar kai Philorhomaios
• Tanais
• Roman Empire
• Augustus
• Marcus Agrippa
• Sarmatians
• Bosporan Kingdom

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