Silver Drachm of Ariobarzanes I

Unknown

ca. 96–63 BC · Silver · Greek and Roman Art

Ariobarzanes I was the king of Cappadocia from 95 B.C. to ca. 63 B.C. He was the first Hellenistic ruler to take the epithet Philoromaios (Friend of the Romans), as in the legend on this silver drachm. When he took control of Cappadocia from the preceding Ariarathid dynasty, Ariobarzanes continued to use the same iconography to legitimize his rule, choosing Athena Nikephoros (carrying Nike) for the reverse of the coin.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 96–63 BC

Medium

Silver

Culture

Greek, Cappadocia, Eusebeia

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Bequest of Nanette B. Kelekian, 2020