Tigranes II the Great 95-56 BC (Kov 60-127)
Description
Tigranes II, also known as Tigranes the Great, was a notable Armenian king who transformed a fragmented kingdom under Parthian control into a strong empire that resisted both Roman and Parthian invasions. After being held hostage by Mithradates II of Parthia, Tigranes was released in 96 BC and began to expand his kingdom by forming alliances and annexing territories. He built a new capital, Tigranocerta, and established himself as a powerful ruler in the region.
However, Tigranes' alliance with Pontus led to conflicts with Rome. Roman general Lucullus defeated Tigranes, forcing him to abandon his capital and flee. His son, Tigranes the Younger, betrayed him, leading to Tigranes II's surrender to Pompey the Great, who reorganized Armenia, allowing Tigranes to keep Armenia Major while his son was made king of Sophene.
Tigranes' reign is marked by three historical periods in his coinage:
1) before Tigranocerta, as a Parthian vassal to an independent king;
2) the empire of Tigranes as "King of Kings," until its loss to Pompey; and
3) the Pompeian reorganization with Tigranes as a vassal of Rome.
Tigranes' coinage presents challenges for numismatists due to the variety of types, mint marks, and stylistic variations. The coins attributed to Tigranes the Younger, traditionally assigned to Tigranes the Great, feature a "comet tiara."
However, Tigranes' alliance with Pontus led to conflicts with Rome. Roman general Lucullus defeated Tigranes, forcing him to abandon his capital and flee. His son, Tigranes the Younger, betrayed him, leading to Tigranes II's surrender to Pompey the Great, who reorganized Armenia, allowing Tigranes to keep Armenia Major while his son was made king of Sophene.
Tigranes' reign is marked by three historical periods in his coinage:
1) before Tigranocerta, as a Parthian vassal to an independent king;
2) the empire of Tigranes as "King of Kings," until its loss to Pompey; and
3) the Pompeian reorganization with Tigranes as a vassal of Rome.
Tigranes' coinage presents challenges for numismatists due to the variety of types, mint marks, and stylistic variations. The coins attributed to Tigranes the Younger, traditionally assigned to Tigranes the Great, feature a "comet tiara."
Collection Tree
- ANCIENT
- Armenia Major
- Tigranes II the Great 95-56 BC (Kov 60-127)
- Period I: 96-ca. 80 BC. (Kov 60-70)
- Period II: Empire ca. 80-68 BC (Kov 71-100)
- Period III: Pompeian Reorganization 65-56 BC. Mint of Artaxata (Kov 101-122)
- Imitations of Tigranes’s Tigranocerta coinage struck in Samosata(?). After ca. 69-ca. 66 BC. (Kov 123-127)
- Tigranes II the Great 95-56 BC (Kov 60-127)
- Armenia Major