Isias: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 09:51, 25 March 2009

Isias Philostorgos (Greek: η Ισίας) was a Greek woman who lived in the 1st century BC. Through her marriage to King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene, she became the Queen of Commagene. Unfortunately very little is known on Isias. There is a possibility like Antiochus I, she could be a descendant of the Syrian Greek King Seleucus I Nicator. She was the daughter of King Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia and wife Athenais Philostorgos.

Isias and Antiochus I had four children who were:

Son, Mithridates II of Commagene - who succeeded Antiochus I after his death in 38 BC
Daughter, Laodice, who married King Orodes II of Parthia
Son, Antiochus II of Commagene
Daughter, Antiochis of Commagene
Daughter, married to Artavasdes I, King of Atropatene
Daughter, Tryphaena (possibly), who perhaps had by Mark Antony a daughter Antonia, wife of Pythodoros of Tralles

She appeared to have died of unknown causes sometime between the late 30s or early 20s BC. Isias was buried along with her daughter and her granddaughter on a burial site. This burial site was a monument known as the Karakush or Karakus Tumulus, also known as The Black Bird. The monument received its name because there is a column topped by an eagle, which has earned the mound name.

This burial sanctuary was constructed and built by her son King Mithridates II of Commagene. Mithridates II built this sanctuary to bury and honour the lives and the memories of Isias, her daughter Antiochis and her granddaughter Aka I of Commagene. It is located 12 km or 7.5 miles from Kahta, Turkey. Each tumulus is surrounded by groups of three Doric Columns. Each column was about 9 metres or 29.5 feet high. It is topped with steles, reliefs and statues of a bull, lion and eagle.

This monument has Greek honorific inscriptions, which provides information about this site. It is inscribed on the external face of the two drums of the central column of the Northeast. Skipping a couple of phrases where restoration has been doubtful, the inscription reads:

This is the hierothesion [sacred site or foundation] of Isias, whom the great King Mithridates (she being his own mother)…deemed worthy of this final hour. And…Antiochis lies herein, the king’s sister by the same mother, the most beautiful of women, whose life was short but her honours long-enduring. Both of these, as you see, preside here, and with them a daughter’s daughter, the daughter of Antiochis, Aka. A memorial of life with each other and of the king’s honour.

Isias’ name also appears in another honorific inscription dedicated by Mithridates II at the tomb of her other daughter Laodice:

The great King Mithridates, the son of the great king Antiochus and queen Isias, dedicated this image to the unfading memory of queen Laodice, the king’s sister and the wife of Orodes, the king of kings, and to her own honour.

After the Kingdom of Commagene was annexed in 72 by the Roman Emperor Vespasian, the vault of the tomb has been looted.

Sources

http://www.guide-martine.com/southeastern3.asp
Campbell-Scott, Roger. "Nimrud Dagh - A Sacred Mountain in Anatolia", in Vanished Civilizations: The Hidden Secrets of Lost Cities and Forgotten Peoples, pp.194-197. Reader’s Digest Services P/L, Hong Kong, 1988. ISBN 0276426584.
[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Isias Philostorgos''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''' η Ισίας''') was a Greek woman who lived in the [[1st century BC]]. Through her marriage to King [[Antiochus I Theos of Commagene]], she became the Queen of Commagene.  There is a possibility like Antiochus I, she could be a descendant of the [[Syria]]n [[Greeks|Greek]] King [[Seleucus I Nicator]]. Possibly she was the daughter of King [[Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia]] and wife Athenais Philostorgos.
+'''Isias Philostorgos''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''' η Ισίας''') was a Greek woman who lived in the [[1st century BC]]. Through her marriage to King [[Antiochus I Theos of Commagene]], she became the Queen of Commagene. Unfortunately very little is known on Isias. There is a possibility like Antiochus I, she could be a descendant of the [[Syria]]n [[Greeks|Greek]] King [[Seleucus I Nicator]]. She was the daughter of King [[Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia]] and wife Athenais Philostorgos.
 Isias and Antiochus I had four children who were:
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 * Daughter, Tryphaena (possibly), who perhaps had by [[Mark Antony]] a daughter [[Antonia, granddaughter of Gaius Antonius Hybrida|Antonia]], wife of [[Pythodoros of Tralles]]
-She appears to have died sometime between the late 30s or early 20s BC. Isias was buried along with her daughter and her granddaughter on a burial site. This burial site was a monument known as the ''Karakush'' or ''Karakus Tumulus'', also known as ''The Black Bird''. The monument received its name because there is a column topped by an eagle, which has earned the mound name.
+She appeared to have died of unknown causes sometime between the late 30s or early 20s BC. Isias was buried along with her daughter and her granddaughter on a burial site. This burial site was a monument known as the ''Karakush'' or ''Karakus Tumulus'', also known as ''The Black Bird''. The monument received its name because there is a column topped by an eagle, which has earned the mound name.
 This burial sanctuary was constructed and built by her son King [[Mithridates II of Commagene]]. Mithridates II built this sanctuary to bury and honour the lives and the memories of Isias, her daughter Antiochis and her granddaughter [[Aka I of Commagene]]. It is located 12 km or 7.5 miles from [[Kahta]], [[Turkey]]. Each tumulus is surrounded by groups of three [[Doric]] Columns. Each column was about 9 metres or 29.5 feet high. It is topped with steles, reliefs and statues of a bull, lion and eagle.