Mithridates IV of Pontus

Mithridates IV of Pontus or known by his full name Mithridates Philopator Philadelphus^[1] (Greek: Mιθριδάτης ὁ Φιλoπάτωρ Φιλάδελφoς, which means "Mithridates the father-loving, brother-loving"; flourished 2nd century BC, died ca. 150 BC) was a prince and sixth King of the Kingdom of Pontus.

Mithridates IV was of Persian and Greek Macedonian ancestry. He was the son born to the Monarchs Laodice and Mithridates III of Pontus.^[2] Mithridates IV had two siblings: one brother called Pharnaces I of Pontus and a sister called Laodice.^[3] He was born and raised in the Kingdom of Pontus.

Mithridates IV is first mentioned in 179 BC, as he is associated with Pharnaces I in a treaty concluded by the latter King of Pergamon Eumenes II, in a manner that would lead one to suppose he was already admitted to some share in sovereign power.^[4] The date of Mithridates’ accession to the Pontian throne is utterly mysterious, since we first hear of him as ruler in 154 BC, when he is mentioned as sending an auxiliary force to the assistance of King of Pergamon, Attalus II Philadelphus, against the King of Bithynia, Prusias II. This moment was an important event, since it signalled the start of a policy of friendship of the Kingdom of Pontus with the Roman Republic and her allies which would continue till Mithridates VI Eupator.^[5]

At an unknown date, he married his sister Laodice as his wife (and queen).^[6] They appeared to have no children. According to the surviving coinage, his royal title and full name was Mithridates Philopator Philadelphus.^[7] Coinage has survived issued by Mithridates IV alone and ones he issued with Laodice. The ones issued with his sister-wife display a fine double portrait and they adapted a Ptolemaic model for coinage.^[8] It is clear that the coinage draws attention to his Persian and Greek origins.

An example of a coin that Mithridates IV honors his Persian origins was choosing a reverse type of Perseus. This coin could have been issued before he got married. Perseus can be seen as a bridge between ancient Greek and Persian cultures. Although Perseus was a Greek hero, he had Persian associations; the Persians regarded him as an Assyrian.^[9] Perseus is standing facing wearing a chlamys, pointed curved helmet, and winged boots. In his left hand, he holds the harp and his right hand holding the head of Medusa.^[10] The star and crescent are also present with his full name.^[11] The obverse had a portrait of him alone.^[12]

An example of a coin, that Mithridates IV honors his Greek origins is a coin from his joint rule with his sister-wife. The coin is on one side is a draped bust of Mithridates IV and Laodice. The reverse side shows their royal titles in Greek, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΙΘΡΑΔΑΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΛΑΟΔΙΚΗΣ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ, which means of King Mithridates and Queen Laodice Philadelphoi.^[13] Philadelphoi is the plural for the Greek word Philadelphus which means sibling-loving. On the side of their royal titles, presents Mithridates IV and Laodice struck in the image of the Greek Patron Gods Zeus and Hera. Zeus and Hera are standing facing front. Hera is holding a sceptre in the right hand, while Zeus laureate holds a sceptre in his right hand and a thunderbolt in his left hand.^[14] The choice of coinage is a declaration of Hellenism.^[15]

References

↑ McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.35
↑ Callatay, The First Royal Coinage of Pontos (from Mithridates III to Mithridates V) p.21
↑ McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.90
↑ Polybius, Histories xxxiii. 12.
↑ Polybius, Histories xxv. 2.
↑ Getzel, Hellenistic settlements in Europe, the islands and Asia Minor p. 387
↑ McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.35
↑ Callatay, The First Royal Coinage of Pontos (from Mithridates III to Mithridates V) p.21
↑ McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.35
↑ McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.35
↑ McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.35
↑ McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.35
↑ McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.35
↑ Callatay, The First Royal Coinage of Pontos (from Mithridates III to Mithridates V) p.15
↑ McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.35

Sources

B.C. McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus, BRILL, 1986
M. Getzel, Hellenistic settlements in Europe, the islands and Asia Minor, Cohen University of California Press, 1995
Hazel, John; Who's Who in the Roman World, "Mithridates IV", (2002).
The First Royal Coinage of Pontos (from Mithridates III to Mithridates V), Francois de Callatay
Polybius, Histories, xxv. 2
Polybius, Histories, xxxiii. 12

External links

Coinage of Mithridates IV on pages 12-16

Hellenistic rulers

Argeads	Philip II Alexander III the Great Philip III Arrhidaeus Alexander IV

Antigonids	Antigonus I Monophthalmus Demetrius I Poliorcetes Antigonus II Gonatas Demetrius II Aetolicus Antigonus III Doson Philip V Perseus Philip VI (pretender)

Ptolemies	Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy II Philadelphus Ptolemy III Euergetes Ptolemy IV Philopator Ptolemy V Epiphanes Cleopatra I Syra (regent) Ptolemy VI Philometor Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator Cleopatra II Philometor Soter Ptolemy VIII Physcon Cleopatra III Ptolemy IX Lathyros Ptolemy X Alexander Berenice III Ptolemy XI Alexander Ptolemy XII Auletes Cleopatra VI Tryphaena Berenice IV Epiphanea Ptolemy XIII Ptolemy XIV Cleopatra VII Philopator Ptolemy XV Caesarion

Seleucids	Seleucus I Nicator Antiochus I Soter Antiochus II Theos Seleucus II Callinicus Seleucus III Ceraunus Antiochus III the Great Seleucus IV Philopator Antiochus IV Epiphanes Antiochus V Eupator Demetrius I Soter Alexander I Balas Demetrius II Nicator Antiochus VI Dionysus Diodotus Tryphon Antiochus VII Sidetes Alexander II Zabinas Seleucus V Philometor Antiochus VIII Grypus Antiochus IX Cyzicenus Seleucus VI Epiphanes Antiochus X Eusebes Antiochus XI Epiphanes Demetrius III Eucaerus Philip I Philadelphus Antiochus XII Dionysus Antiochus XIII Asiaticus Philip II Philoromaeus

Lysimachids	Lysimachus

Antipatrids	Cassander Philip IV Alexander V Antipater II Antipater Etesias Sosthenes

Attalids	Philetaerus Eumenes I Attalus I Eumenes II Attalus II Attalus III Eumenes III

Greco-Bactrians	Diodotus I Diodotus II Euthydemus I Demetrius I Euthydemus II Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Demetrius II Eucratides I Plato Eucratides II Heliocles I

Indo-Greeks	Demetrius I Antimachus I Pantaleon Agathocles Apollodotus I Demetrius II Antimachus II Menander I Zoilos I Agathokleia Lysias Strato I Antialcidas Heliokles II Polyxenios Demetrius III Philoxenus Diomedes Amyntas Epander Theophilos Peukolaos Thraso Nicias Menander II Artemidoros Hermaeus Archebius Telephos Apollodotus II Hippostratos Dionysios Zoilos II Apollophanes Strato II

Kings of Bithynia	Boteiras Bas Zipoetes I Nicomedes I Zipoetes II Etazeta (regent) Ziaelas Prusias I Prusias II Nicomedes II Nicomedes III Nicomedes IV Socrates Chrestus

Kings of Pontus	Mithridates I Ctistes Ariobarzanes Mithridates II Mithridates III Pharnaces I Mithridates IV Philopator Philadephos Mithridates V Euergetes Mithridates VI Eupator Pharnaces II Darius Arsaces Polemon I Pythodorida Polemon II

Kings of Commagene	Ptolemaeus Sames II Mithridates I Antiochus I Mithridates II Antiochus II Mithridates III Antiochus III Antiochus IV

Kings of Cappadocia	Ariarathes I Ariarathes II Ariamnes II Ariarathes III Ariarathes IV Ariarathes V Orophernes Ariarathes VI Ariarathes VII Ariarathes VIII Ariarathes IX Ariobarzanes I Ariobarzanes II Ariobarzanes III Ariarathes X Archelaus

Kings of the Cimmerian Bosporus	Mithridates I Pharnaces Asander with Dynamis Mithridates II Asander with Dynamis Scribonius’ attempted rule with Dynamis Dynamis with Polemon Polemon with Pythodorida Aspurgus Mithridates III with Gepaepyris Mithridates III Cotys I

Preceded by Pharnaces I	King of Pontus c. 155 BC – c. 150 BC	Succeeded by Mithridates V

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