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Andragoras (3rd century BC)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Obv:Bearded ruler wearing the taenia.
Rev': Greek legend ΑΝΔΡΑΓΟΡΟΥ ("Andragoras"). Quadriga driven by Nike, together with an armed warrior.
- Not to be mistaken for Andragoras, a satrap of Alexander from 331 BCE, also in the area of Parthia.
Andragoras (?-238 BCE) was a Seleucid satrap of the province of Partahia (Parthia), under the Seleucid rulers Antiochus I Soter and Antiochus II Theos (Justin, xli. 4).
Andragoras tried to wrest independence from the Seleucid Empire, at a time when the Seleucid were embroiled in conflict with Ptolemaic Egypt. In defiance, he issued coins in which he wears the royal diadem as well as his name (Will: I, 1966). Andragoras was a neighbour, a contemporary, and probably an ally of Diodotus I in Bactria, who also wrested independence around the same time, giving rise to the Greco-Bactrian kingdom.
Andragoras ruled only for a few years, before being vanquished and killed by the Parni led by Arsaces around 238 BCE, who went on to create the Parthian Empire:
- "He (Arsaces) was used to a life of pillage and theft, when he heard about the defeat of Seleucus against the Gauls. Relieved from his fear of the king, he attacked the Parthians with a band of thieves, vanquished their prefect Andragoras, and, after having killed him took the power over the nation" ("Hic solitus latrociniis et rapto uiuere accepta opinione Selencum a Gallis in Asia uictum, solutus regis metu, cum praedonum manu Parthos ingressus praefectum eorum Andragoran oppressit sublatoque eo imperium gentis inuasit") Justin, xli. 4.