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Nysa or Nyssa (Greek: Νύσ(σ)α, fl. 150s – 126 BC) was a princess from the Kingdom of Pontus and was a Queen of Cappadocia. She was the ruler of Cappadocia on behalf of her minor son in 130 – 126 BC.

Biography

Nysa was of Greek Macedonian and Persian ancestry. She was the daughter of Pharnaces I and queen Nysa. Her brother was Mithridates who became Mithridates V. She is also known as Laodice. Nysa was the namesake of her mother, who is believed to have died during childbirth, while giving birth to either her or Mithridates. She was born and raised in the Kingdom of Pontus.

Sometime after 160 BC, Nysa married King Ariarathes V.^[1] They were distant relatives as they had lineage from the Seleucid dynasty and from the Pontian monarchs. Through this marriage, Nysa became Queen of Cappadocia.

Ariarathes V and Nysa were attracted to the culture of Athens. Nysa had either given the Athenians a gift or done a favor for them.^[2] They were honored as patrons by the Artists of Dionysus at Athens.^[3] The guild voted a decree in their honor. It placed a statue of Ariarathes V, in their shrine and celebrated the birthdays of Nysa and Ariarathes V in recognition of the gifts the artists had received from them.^[4]

Ariarathes V died in 130 BC and his youngest son with Nysa, Ariarathes VI, succeeded him. During their marriage, Nysa bore Ariarathes V five other sons. At some point, Nysa poisoned her five other children so she might obtain the government of the Kingdom.^[5] Ariarathes VI was still too young to rule, so Nysa acted as his regent between 130 - 126 BC.^[6]

The citizens of Cappadocia - who were loyal to the ruling dynasty - had Nysa put to death on account of her cruelty and allowed Ariarathes VI to continue to reign as king. Nysa’s regency reflected a period of turbulence in the royal family which ended with her death.^[7] Her reign was the beginning of the end of this ruling dynasty of Cappadocia. Her grandchildren Ariarathes VII and Ariarathes VIII were the last kings of this dynasty .

Coinage from the Nysa regency has survived. One coin shows the portraits busts of Nysa and Ariarathes VI. On the other side there is the inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΝΗΣΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΤΟΥ ΓΙΟΥ, which means of Queen Nysa and King Ariarathes Epiphanes imminent son. There is a depiction of Athena standing and holding Nike by the inscription.

References

^ Cartledge, Hellenistic constructs: essays in culture, history and historiography p.139
^ Day, An economic history of Athens under Roman domination p.40
^ McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.73
^ Day, An economic history of Athens under Roman domination p.92
^ Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology > v. 2, page 1216 "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, page 284 (V. 1)". Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2011-06-04.
^ McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.38
^ McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus, p.73

Sources

Cartledge, P. Garnsey, P., E.S. Gruen, E.S., Hellenistic constructs: essays in culture, history and historiography (Hellenistic Culture and Society), University of California Press, 1997; ISBN 978-0-520-20676-2
Day, j., An economic history of Athens under Roman domination, Literary Licensing, LLC, 2011; ISBN 978-1-258-13104-3
McGing, B.C., The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus, BRILL, 1986; ASIN: B01FGJZISI
Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, v. 2, page 1216-97 "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, page 284 (V. 1)". Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2011-06-04. [1]
http://www.snible.org/coins/hn/cappadocia.html#Ariarathes VI
http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/womeninpower/European-Queen-Regnants.htm

[1] Cartledge, Hellenistic constructs: essays in culture, history and historiography p.139

[2] Day, An economic history of Athens under Roman domination p.40

[3] McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.73

[4] Day, An economic history of Athens under Roman domination p.92

[5] Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology > v. 2, page 1216 "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, page 284 (V. 1)". Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2011-06-04.

[6] McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus p.38

[7] McGing, The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus, p.73

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Nysa''' or '''Nyssa''' ({{lang-el|Νύσ(σ)α}}, flourished 2nd century BC) was a Princess from the [[Kingdom of Pontus]] and was a Queen of [[Cappadocia]].
+'''Nysa''' or '''Nyssa''' ({{langx|el|Νύσ(σ)α}}, {{floruit|150s{{snd}}126&nbsp;BC}}) was a princess from the [[Kingdom of Pontus]] and was a Queen of [[Cappadocia]]. She was the ruler of Cappadocia on behalf of her minor son in 130{{snd}}126&nbsp;BC.
+==Biography==
-Nysa was of [[Macedonia (Greece)|Greek Macedonian]] and [[Persian people|Persian ancestry]]. She was the daughter of King [[Pharnaces I of Pontus]] and Queen [[Nysa (wife of Pharnaces I of Pontus)|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.
+Nysa was of [[Macedonia (Greece)|Greek Macedonian]] and [[Persian people|Persian ancestry]]. She was the daughter of [[Pharnaces I of Pontus|Pharnaces I]]  and queen [[Nysa (wife of Pharnaces I of Pontus)|Nysa]]. Her brother was Mithridates who became [[Mithridates V Euergetes|Mithridates V]]. She is also known as Laodice. Nysa was the namesake of her mother, who is believed to have died during [[childbirth]], while giving birth to either her or Mithridates. She was born and raised in the Kingdom of Pontus.
-Sometime after 160 BC, Nysa married King [[Ariarathes V of Cappadocia]].<ref>Cartledge, ''Hellenistic constructs: essays in culture, history and historiography'' p.139</ref> Although this marriage was an arranged one, Nysa and Ariarathes V were distant relatives as they had lineage from the [[Seleucid Empire|Seleucid dynasty]] and from the Pontian monarchs. Through her marriage to Ariarathes V, she became Queen of Cappadocia.
+Sometime after 160 BC, Nysa married King [[Ariarathes V of Cappadocia|Ariarathes V]].<ref>Cartledge, ''Hellenistic constructs: essays in culture, history and historiography'' p.139</ref> They were distant relatives as they had lineage from the [[Seleucid Empire|Seleucid dynasty]] and from the Pontian monarchs. Through this marriage, Nysa 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.<ref>Day, ''An economic history of Athens under Roman domination'' p.40</ref> Nysa and Ariarathes V were honored as patrons by the Technitai of [[Dionysus]] at [[Athens]].<ref>McGing, '' The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus'' p.73</ref> 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.<ref>Day, ''An economic history of Athens under Roman domination'' p.92</ref>
+Ariarathes V and Nysa were attracted to the culture of [[Athens]]. Nysa had either given the Athenians a gift or done a favor for them.<ref>Day, ''An economic history of Athens under Roman domination'' p.40</ref> They were honored as patrons by the [[Artists of Dionysus]] at [[Athens]].<ref>McGing, '' The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus'' p.73</ref> The [[guild]] voted a decree in their honor. It placed a statue of Ariarathes V, in their shrine and celebrated the birthdays of Nysa and Ariarathes V in recognition of the gifts the artists had received from them.<ref>Day, ''An economic history of Athens under Roman domination'' p.92</ref>
-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.<ref>http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0293.html</ref> Ariarathes VI was still too young to rule, so Nysa acted as his regent.<ref>McGing, '' The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus'' p.38</ref> Nysa was a regent for Ariarathes VI between 130 BC-126 BC.
+Ariarathes V died in 130 BC and his youngest son with Nysa, [[Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia|Ariarathes VI]], succeeded him. During their marriage, Nysa bore Ariarathes V five other sons. At some point, Nysa poisoned her five other children so she might obtain the government of the Kingdom.<ref>Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology > v. 2, page 1216 {{cite web |url=http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0293.html |title=Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, page 284 (V. 1) |accessdate=2011-06-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604212716/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0293.html |archivedate=2011-06-04 }}</ref> Ariarathes VI was still too young to rule, so Nysa acted as his regent between 130 - 126 BC.<ref>McGing, '' The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus'' p.38</ref>
+The citizens of Cappadocia - who were loyal to the ruling dynasty - had Nysa put to death on account of her cruelty and allowed Ariarathes VI to continue to reign as king. Nysa’s regency reflected a period of turbulence in the royal family which ended with her death.<ref>McGing, ''The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus'', p.73</ref> Her reign was the beginning of the end of this ruling dynasty of Cappadocia. Her grandchildren [[Ariarathes VII of Cappadocia|Ariarathes VII]] and [[Ariarathes VIII of Cappadocia|Ariarathes VIII]] were the last kings of this dynasty .
-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.
+Coinage from the Nysa regency has survived. One coin shows the portraits busts of Nysa and Ariarathes VI. On the other side there is the inscription ''ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΝΗΣΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΤΟΥ ΓΙΟΥ'', which means ''of Queen Nysa and King Ariarathes Epiphanes imminent son''. There is a depiction of [[Athena]] standing and holding [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]] by the inscription.
-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.<ref>McGing, ''The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus'' p.73</ref> 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.
-In 2005, Nysa of Cappadocia was named the official Macedonian princess of the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] in a promotional event.
 ==References==
@@ Line 19: / Line 18: @@
 ==Sources==
+* Cartledge, P. Garnsey, P., E.S. Gruen, E.S., ''Hellenistic constructs: essays in culture, history and historiography'' (Hellenistic Culture and Society), University of California Press, 1997; {{ISBN|978-0-520-20676-2}}
-*http:www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0293.html
+* Day, j., An economic history of Athens under Roman domination, Literary Licensing, LLC, 2011; {{ISBN|978-1-258-13104-3}}
-*http:www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0294.html
+* McGing, B.C., The foreign policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus, BRILL, 1986; ASIN: B01FGJZISI
+* Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, v. 2, page 1216-97 {{cite web |url=http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0293.html |title=Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, page 284 (V. 1) |accessdate=2011-06-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604212716/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0293.html |archivedate=2011-06-04 }} [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
+[[Category:2nd-century BC women regents]]
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Nysa of Cappadocia}}
-[[Category:Female regents]]
+[[Category:Queens consort of Cappadocia]]
-[[Category:Hellenistic Cappadocia]]
+[[Category:Iranian people of Greek descent]]
-[[Category:2nd-century BC rulers]]
+[[Category:Kingdom of Cappadocia]]
+[[Category:2nd-century BC Iranian people]]
+[[Category:Mithridatic dynasty]]
+[[Category:Ariarathid dynasty]]
+[[Category:2nd-century BC regents]]
+[[Category:2nd-century BC births]]
+[[Category:2nd-century BC deaths]]
+[[Category:Daughters of kings]]