Nysa of Cappadocia
Encyclopedia
Nysa or Nyssa was a Princess from the Kingdom of Pontus
and was a Queen of Cappadocia
.
Nysa was of Greek Macedonian
and Persian ancestry
. She was the daughter of King Pharnaces I of Pontus
and Queen Nysa, while her brother was the Pontian Prince and King Mithridates V of Pontus
. Nysa is also known as Laodice
. Nysa is the namesake of her mother, who is believed to have died during childbirth, when her mother was giving birth to either her or Mithridates V. She was born and raised in the Kingdom of Pontus.
Sometime after 160 BC, Nysa married King Ariarathes V of Cappadocia
. Although this marriage was an arranged one, Nysa and Ariarathes V were distant relatives as they had lineage from the Seleucid dynasty
and from the Pontian monarchs. Through her marriage to Ariarathes V, she became Queen of Cappadocia.
Ariarathes V and Nysa were attracted to the culture of Athens. Nysa had donated to the Athenians some gift or did a favor she had bestowed upon them. Nysa and Ariarathes V were honored as patrons by the Technitai of Dionysus
at Athens
. The guild voted a decree in honor of Nysa and her husband. The guild placed a statue of Ariarathes V, in their shrine and celebrated the birthdays of Nysa and Ariarathes V in recognition of the gifts which the artists had received from them.
Ariarathes V had died in 130 BC and his youngest son with Nysa, Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
, succeeded him. During their marriage Nysa bore Ariarathes V, five other sons. At some point, Nysa had poisoned her five other children so she might obtain the government of the Kingdom. Ariarathes VI was still too young to rule, so Nysa acted as his regent. Nysa was a regent for Ariarathes VI between 130 BC-126 BC.
Coinage has survived from the regency of Nysa with her son Ariarathes VI. One coin has survived showing the portraits busts of Nysa and Ariarathes VI. On the other side of the coin, states their royal titles in Greek ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΝΗΣΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΤΟΥ ΓΙΟΥ, which means of Queen Nysa and King Ariarathes Epiphanes her son. On the side of their royal titles, displays the ancient Greek Goddess Athena
, holding Nike.
The citizens of Cappadocia, who were loyal to the ruling dynasty, had Nysa put to death on accounts of her cruelty and allowed Ariarathes VI to continue to reign as King of Cappadocia. Nysa’s regency over her son reflects a period of turbulence in the royal family which ended in her death. After the death of Nysa, was the beginning of the end of the native ruling dynasty of Cappadocia. Her grandchildren Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia
and Ariarathes VIII of Cappadocia
were the last Kings from the native dynasty to rule Cappadocia.
Kingdom of Pontus
The Kingdom of Pontus or Pontic Empire was a state of Persian origin on the southern coast of the Black Sea. It was founded by Mithridates I in 291 BC and lasted until its conquest by the Roman Republic in 63 BC...
and was a Queen of Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
.
Nysa was of Greek Macedonian
Macedonia (Greece)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of Greece in Southern Europe. Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region...
and Persian ancestry
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
. She was the daughter of King Pharnaces I of Pontus
Pharnaces I of Pontus
Pharnaces I , fifth king of Pontus and was of Persian and Greek Macedonian ancestry. He was the son of King Mithridates III of Pontus and his wife Laodice, whom he succeeded on the throne. Pharnaces had two siblings: a brother called Mithridates IV of Pontus and a sister called Laodice who...
and Queen Nysa, while her brother was the Pontian Prince and King Mithridates V of Pontus
Mithridates V of Pontus
Mithridates V Euergetes ; also known as Mithridates V of Pontus, Mithradates V of Pontus and Mithradates V Euergetes, was a Prince and seventh King of the wealthy Kingdom of Pontus.Mithridates V was of Greek Macedonian and Persian ancestry...
. Nysa is also known as Laodice
Laodice
-Greek mythology:* Laodice , daughter of Priam, king of Troy* Laodice, daughter of Agamemnon, a.k.a. Electra* Laodice, one of the Hyperborean maidens* Laodice, consort of Phoroneus...
. Nysa is the namesake of her mother, who is believed to have died during childbirth, when her mother was giving birth to either her or Mithridates V. She was born and raised in the Kingdom of Pontus.
Sometime after 160 BC, Nysa married King Ariarathes V of Cappadocia
Ariarathes V of Cappadocia
Ariarathes V Eusebes Philopator was son of the preceding king Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia and Antiochis. Previously called Mithridates, he reigned 33 years, 163–130 BC, as king of Cappadocia. He was distinguished by the excellence of his character and his cultivation of philosophy and the liberal...
. Although this marriage was an arranged one, Nysa and Ariarathes V were distant relatives as they had lineage from the Seleucid dynasty
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
and from the Pontian monarchs. Through her marriage to Ariarathes V, she became Queen of Cappadocia.
Ariarathes V and Nysa were attracted to the culture of Athens. Nysa had donated to the Athenians some gift or did a favor she had bestowed upon them. Nysa and Ariarathes V were honored as patrons by the Technitai of Dionysus
Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
at Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. The guild voted a decree in honor of Nysa and her husband. The guild placed a statue of Ariarathes V, in their shrine and celebrated the birthdays of Nysa and Ariarathes V in recognition of the gifts which the artists had received from them.
Ariarathes V had died in 130 BC and his youngest son with Nysa, Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VI Epiphanes Philopator , King of Cappadocia, was the youngest son of Ariarathes V of Cappadocia and Nysa of Cappadocia.He reigned about 14 years . He was a child at his succession, and for this reason the power was kept by his mother who acted as his regent...
, succeeded him. During their marriage Nysa bore Ariarathes V, five other sons. At some point, Nysa had poisoned her five other children so she might obtain the government of the Kingdom. Ariarathes VI was still too young to rule, so Nysa acted as his regent. Nysa was a regent for Ariarathes VI between 130 BC-126 BC.
Coinage has survived from the regency of Nysa with her son Ariarathes VI. One coin has survived showing the portraits busts of Nysa and Ariarathes VI. On the other side of the coin, states their royal titles in Greek ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΝΗΣΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΤΟΥ ΓΙΟΥ, which means of Queen Nysa and King Ariarathes Epiphanes her son. On the side of their royal titles, displays the ancient Greek Goddess Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
, holding Nike.
The citizens of Cappadocia, who were loyal to the ruling dynasty, had Nysa put to death on accounts of her cruelty and allowed Ariarathes VI to continue to reign as King of Cappadocia. Nysa’s regency over her son reflects a period of turbulence in the royal family which ended in her death. After the death of Nysa, was the beginning of the end of the native ruling dynasty of Cappadocia. Her grandchildren Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VII Philometor , King of Cappadocia, was the first son of King Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia and his wife Laodice of Cappadocia. Ariarathes VII had an older sister called Nysa and a younger brother called Ariarathes VIII of Cappadocia....
and Ariarathes VIII of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VIII of Cappadocia
Ariarathes VIII Epiphanes , King of Cappadocia, was the second son of Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia and wife Laodice of Cappadocia. Ariarathes VIII had an older sister called Nysa and an older brother called Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia....
were the last Kings from the native dynasty to rule Cappadocia.
Sources
- http:www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0293.html
- http:www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0294.html
- http://www.snible.org/coins/hn/cappadocia.html#Ariarathes VI
- http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/womeninpower/European-Queen-Regnants.htm
- J. Day, An economic history of Athens under Roman domination, Ayer Publishing, 1942
- B.C. McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus, BRILL, 1986
- P. Cartledge, P. Garnsey & E.S. Gruen, Hellenistic constructs: essays in culture, history and historiography, University of California Press, 1997