Laodice (wife of Mithridates III of Pontus)
Laodice (fl. late 3rd – early 2nd centuries BCE) was a Greek Princess from the Seleucid Empire and the wife of King Mithridates III of Pontus.[1]
Laodice appears to have come from obscure origins. Laodice could have been a supposed daughter of the Seleucid King Antiochus IV Epiphanes.[2] This is based on the assumption that the sister of Alexander Balas who appeared in Rome with him in 153 BC as a genuine daughter of Antiochus IV Epiphanes was the Laodice who married Mithridates III.[3] Antiochus IV Epiphanes had two daughters who were Laodice VI from this marriage to his sister-wife Laodice IV [4] and his other daughter was Antiochis the child from his concubine.[5] However this assumption shows that Antiochus IV Epiphanes may have had another daughter called Laodice, however this is not certain.[6] The assumption shows that there could some confusion about the identity of this Laodice and Laodice VI.
Laodice bore Mithridates III three children: Mithridates IV of Pontus,[7]Pharnaces I of Pontus [8] and Laodice.[9]
See also
- List of Syrian monarchs
- Timeline of Syrian history
References
^ Getzel, Hellenistic settlements in Europe, the islands and Asia Minor p. 387
^ Grainger, A Seleukid prosopography and gazetteer p.50
^ Grainger, A Seleukid prosopography and gazetteer p.50
^ http://www.livius.org/la-ld/laodice/laodice_iv.html
^ 2 Maccabees 4:30
^ Grainger, A Seleukid prosopography and gazetteer p.50
^ Callatay, The First Royal Coinage of Pontos (from Mithridates III to Mithridates V) p.21
^ Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus xxxviii
^ Callatay, The First Royal Coinage of Pontos (from Mithridates III to Mithridates V) p.21
Sources
- M. Getzel, Hellenistic settlements in Europe, the islands and Asia Minor, Cohen University of California Press, 1995
- J.D. Grainger, A Seleukid prosopography and gazetteer, BRILL 1997
- http://www.livius.org/la-ld/laodice/laodice_iv.html
- The First Royal Coinage of Pontos (from Mithridates III to Mithridates V), Francois de Callatay
