Mithridates II
124 – 91 BCE
Mithradates | Mihrdad | Mehrdad | Mitradat | مهرداد دوم | اشک هشتم | مهرداد بزرگ | 𐭌𐭄𐭓𐭃𐭕
Recreation of Parthian Emperor, Mithridates II from coins. Download
A young Mithridates II with a golden fillet, (diadem) and a long beard.
Ver.2.0 - Last updated: March 12th 2022, by Mo. Rasoulipour
Brief Biography
Mithradates II, during 33 years of reign managed to recover the lost lands, restabilize the situation and also conquer new territories. Therefore, saving the declining empire of Parthia and once more turning it into a regional power.
To the east, he defeated and conquered the nomadic tribes in Bactria who had killed his last two predecessors. He regained the allegiance of Characene in the west, and defeated the insurgent Kingdom of Elymais and also the Arabs, who had continuously raided Babylonia. For the first time, he extended Parthian rule into the Caucasus, where the kingdoms of Armenia, Iberia, and possibly Caucasian Albania became Parthian vassal states. He also seized Dura-Europos in Syria from the Seleucids who were at this time weakened and entangled in ceaseless internal strife and struggles.
Under Mithridates II the Parthian Empire at its prime extended from Syria and the Caucasus to Central Asia and India. Mithradates established diplomatic relations with China for the first time and the Silk Road was opened up to trade afterward. He also concluded the first treaty between Parthia and Rome in 92 BC.
Paraphrased from Wikipedia, by Mahdi Valian
Insignia
Our team’s study and compilation of the personal and family insignia of this era of Iranian history is at its beginning stages. If you are interested in helping this effort please visit the Insignia Project Page.
Name
“ ‘Mithridates’ is the Greek attestation of the Iranian name Mihrdāt, meaning ‘given by Mithra’, the name of the ancient Iranian sun god. The name itself is derived from Old Iranian Miθra-dāta-. ” - Via Encyclopedia Iranica
References
Amazingly beautiful and high-quality coins classified as Sellwood type 24, minted in Seleucia, show Mithridates as a young adult with the most astonishing display of power in his expression. Impossibly thick neck, a hawkish nose, and a strong brow ridge are what stans out at first glance. These coins are perhaps currently the best visual evidence we have of what Mithridates II could have looked like.
Likely Accuracy of the Creative Recreation
Weak - Fair Guess:
The coins of this period of the Parthian Empire assigned to Mithridates II especially those minted in Seleucia, are spectacular in terms of artistic detail and believable realism. However, due to not having a full frontal view and or sculpture one can not be certain about the exact arrangement of the face.
See the latest work in progress:
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