Artabanus IV
213 - 224 AD
Ardawan | Ardavan | اردوان | 𐭍𐭐𐭕𐭓
Also Artabanus V or VI depending on numbering source.
Recreation of Artabanus or Ardavan last Parthian king with the seemingly flaming crown. Due to the uncertainty around the shape and details of the crown there are two readings of the crown. One centered around coins, and the other based on the wall carvings, currently in National museum of Iran in Tehran (see in sources below). Download
A likeness of Artabanus with an alternative crown reading based on coins. This is the less likely possibility since the crown shape is not supported elsewhere other than the coins. This rendering also has a slightly darker and sunburnt complexion. Download
Ver.1.0 - Last updated: Aug 4th 2021, by Mo. Rasoulipour
By clicking the links below you can see the discussions around this figure on Instagram (Mostly in Persian)
Brief Biography
Artabanus IV also known as Artabanus V (older scholarship) or VI depending on numbering sources is considered last king of the Parthian Empire.
Artabanus was the younger son of Vologases V, who died in 208. Few years after rebelling against his brother he successfully conquered much of the empire, including Media and Susa. The Roman emperor Caracalla attacked Artabanus in 216, ravaging much of Media and desecrating the Parthian royal tombs at Arbela. In 217 Artabanus counterattacked; Caracalla was assassinated, and his successor, Macrinus was defeated at Nisibis. Peace was made between the two empires the following year, with the Arsacids keeping most of Mesopotamia. Meanwhile, however, Ardashir son of Papag, had been extending his domains and winning Iranian allies against Parthian overlordship. Revolt became general, and on 28 April 224 Artabanus was finally killed in battle against Ardashir.
- Paraphrased from Wikipedia by Mahdi Valian
Insignia
According to Markings in Ardeshir I’s victory relief and carvings at Firouzabad or the Battle of Hormozdgan. Although unclear whether this is a personal symbol, a status sign or family symbol and if he himself used this symbol or not.
Name
“Artabanus is the Latin form of the Greek Artábanos (Ἁρτάβανος), itself from the Old Persian *Arta-bānu ("the glory of Arta."). The Parthian and Middle Persian variant was Ardawān (𐭍𐭐𐭕𐭓)” - Via Wikipedia
References
A mural possibly of Artabanus IV (left) found un Susa, now at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran, giving the ring to a satrap "Khwasak?". You can see two rows of “flame” like decoration, one from the front to back and one from side to side.
Three coins attributed to Artabanus IV. Listed as Sellwood Type 89, one of which was likely not struck by him but ruler of Armenia under his name and likeness. You can see the markings on the crown are abstract, appearing like spikes with spherical heads. One thing that is clearly emphasized here is how the beard is split in two.
Depiction of Artabanus by the Sassanids mirroring Ahriman, under the hooves of victorious Ardeshir I. Victory Relief.
Comparison between two different readings of the crowns based on coins (left) or the Relief (right).
The likely shapes of spikes if the relief is to be taken as reference. Right Bottom: Statue of Uthal, king of Hatra, has spikes that could be similar to that on Artabanus’ crown.
It is also possible that the crown had been decorated like the crowns on the Hatra kings. An archeological dig of a Parthian grave had uncovered jewels that look like they could be similar to ones seen in Hatra statues.
Likely Accuracy of the Creative Recreation
Wild Guess:
Due to the lack of realism in coins minted in this period of Parthian Empire It is very hard to make out the details of not only the crown but also the face. The few clues that seem to agree that that Artabanus IV likely split his medium-short beard into two. Long mustache, and likely an aquiline nose. He was likely young when he contested the crown and was probably not old by the time he was defeated by the founder of Sassanid Empire Ardeshir I. Clothing colors are also a wild guess, taken from Dura Europos synagogue wall paintings depicting Parthian aristocracy in green and red.
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