Frataraka

Frataraka ( Prtkr') is an ancient Persian title, interpreted variously as “leader, governor, forerunner”.[1] It is an epithet or title of a series of rulers in Persis from 3rd BC till mid 2nd BC prior to the Parthian conquest of West Asia and Iran. Studies of frataraka coins are important to historians of this period.[2]

Roles of the frataraka

During the Achaemenid Empire, frataraka was a title given to the head of a district or province in Egypt, who was junior in superiority to the satrap in Memphis, Egypt.[1] During the time of Seleucid and Parthian Empires, the Aramaic on their coins suggest, depending on interpretation, that they served either deities such as Ahura Mazda or god-like kings such as the Achaemenids or Seleucids.[1]

Summary

There are many controversies and debates about the origin, datings and Sequences of Rulers. First Bunch GF Hill (first one to catalog and study them and he opted same as herzfeld to early 3rd BC dating) but Alram and historian Wiesehofer all pointed to late dating of them iconographically epigraphically and also seamless continuation of their coinage from first series to second and so on. They argued that they ruled by late 2nd BC and ended by mid 2nd BC after Parthian conquered Persia.

Some scholars such as Museler, Sarkhosh Curtis, Hoover, Engles and Mahdi Ahrabi all believe they have started ruling by 3rd BC and there are plenty of evidence produced by researchers pointing to it. First, there are couple of hoards discovered by Herzfeld since 1930's,which till now showing existence of Frataraka coins with Seleucus I victories and trophy coins which were issued by him during 305-301 BC and if we take the circulation average of 20 years, we reach to 285-280 BC and that year coincides with his death and being replaced by his co regent and his son Antiochus I. There were no other coins from other Seleucid rulers discovered with Frataraka hoards suggesting the Frataraka got semi independent and started to strike their coins instead(actually there were some scarce Alexander the Great and Seleucus I and his co ruler in Persia Antiochus I in Some parts of Persia and some hoards discovered in 1930's and 1960-70's contain coins of them with some Frataraka rulers indicating many interpretations which still is open to conclude).There are other evidences as well. The quite numbers of undertype of Seleucus I on coins of Frataraka rulers also point out to their closeness to first Seleucid king and some early Seleucid influences both in iconography and typology of their coins shows they were ruling Persis in earlier than 2nd BC. The names of some Greek and Macedonian satrap mentioned as late as 222 BC with name Alexandros brother of melon upper satrap before accession of Antiochus III.

Mahdi TF Ahrabi

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Frataraka". Encyclopædia Iranica. Columbia University. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  2. ↑ Curtis, Vesta Sarkhosh (2010). "The Frakarak Coins of Persia: Bridging the Gap between Achaemenid and Sasanian Persia". In Curtis, John; Simpson, St. John. The world of Achaemenid Persia history, art and society in Iran and the ancient Near East. London: I.B. Tauris. pp. 379–396. ISBN 9780857718013. Retrieved 23 September 2017.

Alram, M " Nomina propria Iranica in nummis ". 1986

Boyce M & Grenet F. “A History of Zoroastrianism VO: 3 E.J Brill Leiden Publications, 1991, PP110-113

Brandenstein W & Mayrhofer M. "Handbuch des Altpersischen," Wiesbaden, 1964.

Cowley, A.E "Aramaic Papyri of the Fifth Century B.C"., Oxford, 1923.

Curtis, V S "The Frataraka Coins of Persis: Bridging the Gap between Achaemenid and Sasanian Persia" in World of Achaemenid Persia; history, art and society in Iran and the ancient Near East; Edited; 379-396, I. B. Tauris, London; 2010

Klose, D.O. & Müseler W. "Die Münzen aus Persepolis von Alexander dem Großen zu den Sasaniden".(Munich, 2008).

Naster P. “Note G’epigraphie Monetaire De Perside Fratakara,Fratakara,Fratadara” Leiden 1968, PP 74–77

Panaino A. "The Bagan of the Frataraka: Gods or divine kings? "in: C.G. Cereti at al. (ed. s), Religious themes and texts of pre-islamic Iran and Central, Asia, Wiesbaden 2003, pp. 265-288

Skjaervo P.O, ” The Joy of the Cup". Bulletin of Asia institute, 1997 P 102

Wiesehöfer, J. “PRTRK, RB HYLʾ und MRʾ,” in H. Sancisi-Weerdenburg and A. Kuhrt, eds., Achaemenid History VI. Asia Minor and Egypt: Old Cultures in a New Empire, Leiden, 1991, pp. 305–9.

Wiesehöfer, J. "Die 'dunklen Jahrhunderte' der Persis. Untersuchungen zu Geschichte und Kultur von Fārs". in frühhellenistischer Zeit (330-140 v.Chr.) (Zetemata, 90), München 1994

Wiesehöfer J. "Frataraka Iranica online". 2000,

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