Skilurus

Skilurus

Skilurus or Scylurus was the best known king of Scythia in the 2nd century BC. He was the son of a king and the father of a king, but the relation of his dynasty to the previous one is disputed. His realm included the lower reaches of the Borysthenes and Hypanis, as well as the northern part of Crimea, where his capital, Scythian Neapolis, was situated.

Skilurus ruled over the Tauri and controlled the ancient trade emporium of Pontic Olbia, where he minted coins. In order to gain advantage against Chersonesos, he allied himself with the Sarmatian tribe of Rhoxolani. In response, Chersonesos forged an alliance with Mithridates VI of Pontus. Skilurus died during a war against Mithridates, a decisive conflict for supremacy in the Pontic steppe. Soon after his death, the Scythians were defeated by Mithridates (ca. 108 BC). Either Skilurus or his son and successor Palacus were buried in a mausoleum at Scythian Neapolis; it was used from ca. 100 BC to ca. 100 AD.

Plutarch, in "Sayings of Kings and Commanders", reports the following anecdote: "Scilurus on his death-bed, being about to leave eighty sons surviving, offered a bundle of darts to each of them, and bade them break them. When all refused, drawing out one by one, he easily broke them; thus teaching them that, if they held together, they would continue strong, but if they fell out and were divided, they would become weak." [http://www.attalus.org/old/sayings1.html]

References

*"Content of this page in part derives from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia article on the same subject."


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Scythia — In Classical Antiquity, Scythia (Greek polytonic|Σκυθία Skuthia ) was the area in Eurasia inhabited by the Scythians, from the 8th century BC to the 2nd century AD. Its location and extent varied over time but usually extended farther to the west …   Wikipedia

  • Scythians — Infobox Ethnic group group=Scythians poptime=Unknown popplace=Eastern Europe Central Asia West Asia Northern India langs=Scythian language rels=Animism related= *Sarmatians *Dahae *Sakas *Indo Scythians *Massagetes *Jatts *NairsThe Scythians or… …   Wikipedia

  • Olbia, Ukraine — Olbia and other Greek colonies along the north coast of the Black Sea in the 5th century BCE. Pontic Olbia (Ancient Greek: Ὀλβία Ποντική) or Olvia is the site of a colony founded by the Milesians on the shores of the Southern Bug estuary (Ὕπανις …   Wikipedia

  • Scythian Neapolis — was a settlement that existed from the end of the 3rd century BC until the second half of the 3rd century AD. The archeological ruins sit on the outskirts of the present day Simferopol. This city was the center of the Crimean Scythian tribes, led …   Wikipedia

  • Palacus — or Palakus was the king of Lesser Scythia who succeeded his father, Skilurus. Resuming the latter s war against Mithridates the Great, he attempted to besiege Chersonesos but was defeated by Pontic forces under Diophantus. Enlisting the… …   Wikipedia

  • Scilurus — Bas relief représentant Scilurus (Neapolis Scythe) Scilurus (aussi connu sous le nom de Skilurus ou Scylurus) était le plus illustre roi des Scythes du IIe siècle av. J. C.. Il fut fils et père de roi, mais la relation entre sa dynastie et celle… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”