Vologases IV
147 – 191 AD
Walagash | Walākhsh | Wardākhsh | بَلاش چهارم | وَلَگش | 𐭅𐭋𐭂𐭔
Recreation of Parthian King, Vologases IV from beautifully carved stone and coins. Download
A likeness of Vologases with an alternative background and finical attitude. Download
Ver.1.0 - Last updated: Sep 18th 2021, by Mo. Rasoulipour
By clicking the links below you can see the discussions around this figure on Instagram (Mostly in Persian)
Brief Biography
“During the first part of Balāš IV’s reign, Roman-Parthian relations remained peaceful. Balāš IV, however, was probably waiting for a chance to settle the Armenian problem on terms more favorable to Parthia. When the imperial throne passed to Marcus Aurelius in 161, Balāš saw the time as ripe. For the first (and last) time, the Parthians declared war on the Romans”…
- Excerpt from Encyclopedia Iranica
Insignia
Name
“The Parthian form of the name, the oldest, is Walagaš. In Middle Persian it is Wardāxš, in Pahlavi Walāxš. The forms Walāš, Balāš, and even Golāš, attested especially in New Persian and in Arabic, are later. Armenian has Vałarš, which seems to be a borrowing from Middle Persian. The Syriac forms Walgāš, Walgēš, and Wologēš are borrowings from Parthian.” - Via Encyclopedia Iranica
References
Fascinating stone seal (?) of Vologases IV, has been found that (private collection) provides a great opportunity to not only see a likeness from multiple angles, but cross reference with coins and see different interpretations of the face. Picture on top left is the a color image of the seal at a slightly low angle that makes the face appear a bit concerned. Examining the image on the right of the same seal shows us that the eyebrow angles were not this extreme. (Image: Roman Ghirishman - Persian Art, The Parthian and Sassanian Dynasties. page 69)
About the objects atop of the tiara is hard to identify from the coins of Vologases IV. Looking at the change in style of coin making from the early days of Parthian Empire toward it’s end, it is clear that elements become less realistic and more symbolic/abstract. There is a chance that those objects are some sort of animal that is heavily simplified. It could be the stags that are visible on the crown of Sinatruces that was simplified on coins through the centuries. The other likely possibility is that horned animals actually got simplified on crown, not just their representation on the coins.
Likely Accuracy of the Creative Recreation
Weak Guess:
Due to the availability of a face carved in stone, the portrait of Vologases becomes one the stronger guesses among the late Parthian kings. Yet the lack of realism in coins minted in this period of the Parthian Empire makes it very hard to make out the details of not only the face but also the crown. There are points where the coins and stone carving agree in facial features. So with a certain level of relative confidence we can guess that the nose was wide and curved inwards, beard trimmed almost square at the bottom, long handlebar mustache, and cheeks were prominent and full. Clothing and crown colors are also a wild guess, taken from Dura Europos synagogue wall paintings depicting Parthian aristocracy in green and red.
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