Other meanings of Antiochus III
Hellenistic Monarchs
Antiochus III of Commagene (Greek: Ἀντίοχος ὁ Ἐπιφανής, flourished 1st century BC) was a client king of the small Hellenistic kingdom of Commagene, located in what is now southeastern Turkey. He ruled from approximately 12 BC to AD 17, succeeding his father Mithridates III. Antiochus III is known primarily through numismatic evidence and brief mentions in Roman sources, which depict him as a loyal ally of Rome during the early Imperial period. His reign saw the continuation of Commagene's unique blend of Persian and Greek cultural traditions, a legacy that his descendants maintained until the kingdom's annexation by Rome in AD 72.
Antiochus III inherited a kingdom that was strategically important to Rome as a buffer against Parthia. He maintained close ties with the Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius, and his coins bear the title 'Philorhomaios' (friend of Rome), reflecting his pro-Roman stance.1 During his reign, Commagene enjoyed a period of stability, and Antiochus III is recorded as having supplied troops to Roman campaigns in the East. His loyalty was rewarded with Roman recognition, but after his death in AD 17, the kingdom was temporarily annexed by Tiberius, who placed it under direct Roman administration until AD 38, when his son Antiochus IV was restored to the throne.2
Antiochus III's coinage is a primary source for his reign, depicting him with a diadem and often featuring the Armenian tiara, a symbol of his claimed descent from the Orontid dynasty. The reverse sides of his coins typically show a scorpion, a zodiacal sign associated with the royal house, and Greek legends that emphasize his epithets 'Epiphanes' (illustrious) and 'Philorhomaios'. This blend of Greek and Persian iconography reflects the dual cultural heritage of Commagene, which traced its origins to both Alexander the Great's successors and the Achaemenid Empire. The scorpion motif, in particular, is a distinctive feature that appears on the coins of several Commagenian kings, linking them to a shared dynastic identity.3
Despite his relatively obscure reign, Antiochus III is notable for his family connections: he was the father of Antiochus IV of Commagene, who was restored to the throne by Caligula, and his daughter Iotapa married a Cappadocian prince. A lesser-known detail is that Antiochus III may have been the first Commagenian king to issue bronze coins with Latin legends, suggesting a deliberate effort to appeal to Roman authorities.4 Additionally, some scholars speculate that he was involved in the construction of the famous funerary monument at Mount Nemrut, though this is more commonly attributed to his ancestor Antiochus I. The exact circumstances of his death are unknown, but it likely occurred around AD 17, leading to the temporary end of the Commagenian monarchy.2
Antiochus III's legacy is intertwined with the fate of Commagene, which remained a client kingdom until AD 72, when Vespasian annexed it permanently. His son Antiochus IV was a prominent ally of Rome, fighting alongside Vespasian in the Jewish War, but was eventually deposed due to accusations of disloyalty. The dynasty's end did not erase its cultural impact: the sanctuary at Mount Nemrut, with its colossal statues of gods and kings, remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a testament to the syncretic culture that Antiochus III helped preserve.5 Modern historians view Antiochus III as a minor but typical example of a client king who navigated the complexities of Roman power while maintaining local traditions.
This article focuses exclusively on Antiochus III of Commagene, the client king, not the Seleucid ruler Antiochus III the Great.
Help improve the encyclopedia. Reports go straight to the site manager.