Aripharnes The Thataean
King of the Siracae
Reignfl.310-309 BC
PredecessorUnknown
SuccessorUnknown
BornUnknown
DiedUnknown
Unknown
SpouseUnknown
FatherUnknown

Aripharnes (fl. 310–309 BC) or Arypharnasha the Thataean was king of the Sarmatian tribe of Siraces[1] and took part in the First Bosporan Civil War of 310-309 between king Satyros II and his brother Eumelos, a pretender to the throne.[2]

At first, all three claimants to the throne, Satyros, Prytanis, and Eumelos sought Aripharnes to back them to the throne.[3] Aripharnes then ordered each of the lads to hurl a javelin into their father's corpse. Satyros and Prytanis did so, but Eumelos refused.[4] There, Aripharnes proclaimed Eumelos "King of the Cimmerians".[5] He and Eumelos fought Satyrus at the Battle of River Thatis, but they were defeated by the numerically inferior Satyric army. Afterward, he retreated with Eumelos to his settlement Siracena.[6]

The settlement was besieged by Satyros and after a lengthy siege, he was mortally wounded.[7] Meniscus, the mercenary captain in charge of Satyros's mercenaries, broke off the siege and took the body of Satyros to Panticapaeum for a royal burial. After this war, Aripharnes is no longer mentioned during Eumelos's later campaigns as king of the Bosporus.

References

  1. ↑ Siculus, Diodorus. Book 22.23. Eumelus, however, had as ally Aripharnes, the king of the Siraces.
  2. ↑ Siculus, Diodorus. Book 22.23. Eumelus, after concluding a treaty of friendship with some of the barbarians who lived near by and collecting a strong army, set up a rival claim to the throne.
  3. ↑ Barber, Cyril J. (23 September 2004). The Book of Kings, Volume 1. ISBN 9781592448722. three youths who came before Aripharnes, King of Siraces, each claiming to be a son of the King of the Cimmerians
  4. ↑ Barber, Cyril J. (23 September 2004). The Book of Kings, Volume 1. ISBN 9781592448722. Aripharnes ordered each lad to hurl a javelin at their father's corpse. Two did so, but the third refused.
  5. ↑ Barber, Cyril J. (23 September 2004). The Book of Kings, Volume 1. ISBN 9781592448722. Aripharnes proclaimed him the true son of the deceased king
  6. ↑ Siculus, Diodorus. Book 22.23. Aripharnes and Eumelus, however, after having been defeated in the battle, escaped to the capital city....
  7. ↑ Polyaenus. Strategems. Satyrus is killed while attacking Aripharnes, king of the Siraces
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