Mytilus
Encyclopedia
Mytilus was an Illyrian king of the Dardanian Kingdom. Mytilus is probably the son of Monunius
.
Mytilus is the second Illyrian monarch to have struck in 270 BC
coins bearing his name after Monunius
. the coins of Durrës bore the city's symbols and the kings name which stressed his soverignty over the city as his predecessor had done. Coinage of Appoloniain the same period bore only his monogram, as well as symbols similar to those of the Aetolian Laeague, an adversary of Epirus
. Copies of the Illyrian coins are kept at the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, Croatia
. The bronze coins had the head of Hercules on the obverse and on the reverse, Heracles attributes: quiver, bow and mace with the words BAΣIΛEΩΣ MITYΛOY (of King Mytilus).
Mytilus is known from a brief historical note which tells of a war he waged around 270 BC against the successor of Pyrrhus
, Alexander II
as well as his bronze coinage. Mytilus, presumably, retained his authority in Durrës after Alexander II invaded his territory in or around 270 BC. On one occasion some Epirotes were dressed with Illyrian clothes and were put them to plunder their own sites. Unsuspecting the Illyrians relaxed their defenses and rushed themselves to emulate them, believing that men in front of them were just their own probes. So they were easy victims of Epirus. The control of Durrës and Appolonia means that at the time of Mytilus,the Illyrians had regained the extent and authority it enjoyed in the time of Glaucias. Mytilus had even takebn an excusion into the depth of Epirus. It is during this time that Rome
was first invited to intervene against the Illyrians, Epirotes and the Aetolians in the Balkans
. Mytilus was probably succeeded by Longarus in 231 BC.
Monunius
Monunius was an Illyrian king of the Dardanian State. As a figure, Monunius has left more archaeological traces than historical ones. Monunius was a strong opponent of Macedonia but offered aid of 10,000 soldiers to Ptolemy during the Gallic Invasions, which was refused. The Dardanian State headed...
.
Mytilus is the second Illyrian monarch to have struck in 270 BC
270 BC
Year 270 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Clepsina and Blasio...
coins bearing his name after Monunius
Monunius
Monunius was an Illyrian king of the Dardanian State. As a figure, Monunius has left more archaeological traces than historical ones. Monunius was a strong opponent of Macedonia but offered aid of 10,000 soldiers to Ptolemy during the Gallic Invasions, which was refused. The Dardanian State headed...
. the coins of Durrës bore the city's symbols and the kings name which stressed his soverignty over the city as his predecessor had done. Coinage of Appoloniain the same period bore only his monogram, as well as symbols similar to those of the Aetolian Laeague, an adversary of Epirus
Epirus (ancient state)
Epirus was an ancient Greek state, located in the geographical region of Epirus, in the western Balkans. The homeland of the ancient Epirotes was bordered by the Aetolian League to the south, Thessalia and Macedonia to the east and Illyrian tribes to the north...
. Copies of the Illyrian coins are kept at the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. The bronze coins had the head of Hercules on the obverse and on the reverse, Heracles attributes: quiver, bow and mace with the words BAΣIΛEΩΣ MITYΛOY (of King Mytilus).
Mytilus is known from a brief historical note which tells of a war he waged around 270 BC against the successor of Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus or Pyrrhos or Pyrros may refer to the following figures from Greek history and mythology:* Pyrrhus or Neoptolemus, son of Achilles* Pyrrhus of Epirus , famous king, to whom the term Pyrrhic victory alludes...
, Alexander II
Alexander II
Alexander II may refer to:* Alexander II of Macedon, King of Macedon from 370 to 368 BC* Alexander II of Epirus , King of Epirus in 272 BC* Pope Alexander II, Pope from 1061 to 1073* Alexander II of Scotland , the King of Scotland...
as well as his bronze coinage. Mytilus, presumably, retained his authority in Durrës after Alexander II invaded his territory in or around 270 BC. On one occasion some Epirotes were dressed with Illyrian clothes and were put them to plunder their own sites. Unsuspecting the Illyrians relaxed their defenses and rushed themselves to emulate them, believing that men in front of them were just their own probes. So they were easy victims of Epirus. The control of Durrës and Appolonia means that at the time of Mytilus,the Illyrians had regained the extent and authority it enjoyed in the time of Glaucias. Mytilus had even takebn an excusion into the depth of Epirus. It is during this time that Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
was first invited to intervene against the Illyrians, Epirotes and the Aetolians in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
. Mytilus was probably succeeded by Longarus in 231 BC.
Sources
- The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes,1992,ISBN 0-631-19807-5