Kamnaskires II Nikephoros

Kamnaskires II, surnamed Nikephoros ("the Bringer of Victory") was a king of the Elymais only known from his coins. He reigned from about 147 to 139 BC. Around 150 BC, the Seleucid empire disintegrated and at several places local governors became independent and assumed the title of "king" (basileus). The first king in the Elymais was Kamnaskires Soter ("the Saviour"), who ruled around 147 BC. Kamnaskires II Nikephoros ruled slightly later and it is possible that he was identical with Kamnaskires Soter, just changing his name.[1] In 140 BC, Kamnaskires II accepted Parthian suzerainty. However, not long after, Kamnaskires II aided the Seleucid ruler Demetrius II Nicator against the Parthian monarch Mithridates I (r. 171–132 BC). However, Demetrius was eventually defeated and captured by the Parthians. Mithridates I then punished Elymais for aiding the Seleucids–he invaded the region once more and captured two of their major cities.[2][3]

Kamnaskires II Nikephoros
Coin of Kamnaskires II Nikephoros
King of Elymais
Reign147–139 BC
PredecessorKamnaskires I Megas Soter
SuccessorOkkonapses
Died139 BC
DynastyKamnaskirid

The coins of Kamnaskires II Nikephoros are fully Hellenistic in style. They show the portrait of a young man. The reverse shows most often a young god. Less common are an anchor, a cornucopia, an eagle, a bow with quiver or a Nike.[4]

References
  1. van't Haaff 2007, p. 5.
  2. Hansman 1998, pp. 373–376.
  3. Schippmann 1986, pp. 525–536.
  4. van't Haaff 2007, pp. 49–54.

Sources
  • Hansman, John F. (1998). "Elymais". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. VIII, Fasc. 4. pp. 373–376.
  • Kawami, Trudy S. (2013). "Parthian and Elymaean Rock Reliefs". In Potts, Daniel T. (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Iran. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199733309.
  • Rezakhani, Khodadad (2013). "Arsacid, Elymaean, and Persid Coinage". In Potts, Daniel T. (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Iran. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199733309.
  • Schippmann, K. (1986). "Arsacids ii. The Arsacid dynasty". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. II, Fasc. 5. pp. 525–536.
  • Shayegan, M. Rahim (2011). Arsacids and Sasanians: Political Ideology in Post-Hellenistic and Late Antique Persia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–539. ISBN 9780521766418.
  • van't Haaff, Pieter Anne (2007). Catalogue of Elymaean Coinage: Ca. 147 B.C.-A.D. 228. Lancaster: Classical Numismatic Group. ISBN 978-0-9709268-8-3.
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