Aripharnes The Thataean
King of the Siracae
Reignfl.310-309 BC
PredecessorUnknown
SuccessorUnknown
BornUnknown
DiedUnknown
Unknown
SpouseUnknown
FatherUnknown

Aripharnes (fl. 310–309 BC) or Arypharnasha the Thataean was king of the Sarmatian tribe of Siraces[1] and took part in the First Bosporan Civil War of 310-309 between king Satyros II and his brother Eumelos, a pretender to the throne.[2]

Succession

At first, all three claimants to the throne, Satyros, Prytanis, and Eumelos sought Aripharnes to back them to the throne.[3] Aripharnes then ordered each of the lads to hurl a javelin into their father's corpse. Satyros and Prytanis did so, but Eumelos refused.[4] There, Aripharnes proclaimed Eumelos "King of the Cimmerians".[5]

Military history

Aripharnes and Eumelos fought Satyrus at the Battle of River Thatis, but they were defeated by the numerically inferior Satyric army. Afterward, he retreated with Eumelos to his settlement Siracena.[6]

The settlement was besieged by Satyros and after a lengthy siege, he was mortally wounded.[7] Meniscus, the mercenary captain in charge of Satyros's mercenaries, broke off the siege and took the body of Satyros to Panticapaeum for a royal burial. After this war, Aripharnes is no longer mentioned during Eumelos's later campaigns as king of the Bosporus.

References

  1. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. Book 22.23. Eumelus, however, had as ally Aripharnes, the king of the Siraces.
  2. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. Book 22.23. Eumelus, after concluding a treaty of friendship with some of the barbarians who lived near by and collecting a strong army, set up a rival claim to the throne.
  3. ^ Barber, Cyril J. (23 September 2004). The Book of Kings, Volume 1. ISBN 9781592448722. three youths who came before Aripharnes, King of Siraces, each claiming to be a son of the King of the Cimmerians
  4. ^ Barber, Cyril J. (23 September 2004). The Book of Kings, Volume 1. ISBN 9781592448722. Aripharnes ordered each lad to hurl a javelin at their father's corpse. Two did so, but the third refused.
  5. ^ Barber, Cyril J. (23 September 2004). The Book of Kings, Volume 1. ISBN 9781592448722. Aripharnes proclaimed him the true son of the deceased king
  6. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. Book 22.23. Aripharnes and Eumelus, however, after having been defeated in the battle, escaped to the capital city....
  7. ^ Polyaenus. Strategems. Satyrus is killed while attacking Aripharnes, king of the Siraces
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