Elymaïs (Susiana)

[Allotte de la Fuÿa, Monnaies de l'Élymaïde, Chartres, 1905; also in Rec. Num., 1902, p. 92.]

Of this district there are coins struck by dynasts name Kamnaskires, who are followed by kings named Orodes and Phraates, who are perhaps identical with the Parthian monarchs Orodes I and Phraates IV. The coinage seems to cease in the second century A.D.

KAMNASKIRES I. NICEPHORUS. circ. B.C. 163?

Head of beardless king, diademed.
[R. N., 1902, Pl. V. 1.]

ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΚΑΜΝΑΣΚΙΡΟΥ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ. Apollo seated on omphalos (as on Seleucid coins)

AR Tetradr. (Paris).

KAMNASKIRES II (?), ‘GREAT KING.'

No coins?

KAMNASKIRES III AND QUEEN ANZAZE, B.C. 82/81.

Busts of Kamnaskires and Anzaze, each wearing diadem; behind, anchor.
[R. N., 1902, Pl. V. 2.]

ΒΑCΙΛЄΩC ΚΑΜΝΑCΚΙΡΟΥ ΒΑCΙΛΙCCΗC ΑΝΖΑΖΗC. Zeus seated holding Nike. Dated A.S. ‘231’ = B.C. 82/81.

Tetr. 242 grs. (Brit. Mus.—Paris).
Also Drachm (B. M.).

KAMNASKIRES IV, ‘SON OF THE GREAT KING KAMNASKIRES,’ circ. B.C. 75/71.

Bust, diademed. [R. N., 1902, Pl. V. 3.]	ΒΑΣΙΛ(ΕΩΣ ΚΑ)ΜΝΑΣΚΙΡΟΥ ΤΟΥ(μ) ΕΓ(αλον) ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΚΑΜΝΑΣΚΙΡ (ον). Zeus seated holding Nike. Date A.S. 241 = B.C. 72/71. AR Tetradr. (Paris). Also Drachm (B. M.).
Older bust with pointed beard, diademed. [R. N., 1902, Pl. V. 4]	Similar inscr. Head, beaded, diademed AR Tetradr. (Paris); (B. M.) 242 grs.

823

The numerous bronze coins of Elymais bear on obv. the king’s head (with or without tiara), usually accompanied by an anchor or by a crescent and star. A goddess, probably Artemis, sometimes appears on the rev. Some of these may belong to Kamnaskires IV; others bear the names of Orodes = Orodes I of Parthia(?); Phraates = Phraates IV of Parthia(?) ; Osroes = Osroes of Parthia(?), &c. When legends appear, they are in Greek letters barbarously formed or in Chaldaeo-Pehlvi.