Ariara'thes Ix.
A son of Ariobarzanes II., and brother of Ariobarzanes III. (
Cic. Fam. 15.2), reigned six years, B. C. 42-36. When Caesar had confirmed Ariobarzanes III. in this kingdom, he placed Ariarathes under his brother's government. Ariarathes succeeded to the crown after the battle of Philippi, but was deposed and put to death by Antony, who appointed Archelaus as his successor. (Appian,
App. BC 5.7;
D. C. 49.32;
V. Max. 9.15, ex. 2.)
Clinton makes this Ariarathes the son of Ariobarzanes III. (whom he calls the second); but as there were three kings of the name of Ariobarzanes, grandfather, son, and grandson [ARIOBARZANES], and Strabo (
xii. p.540) says that the family became extinct in three generations, it seems most probable, that this Ariarathes was a brother of Ariobarzanes III. Cicero (
Cic. Att. 13.2) speaks of an Ariarathes, a son of Ariobarzanes, who came to Rome in B. C. 45; but there seems no reason to believe that he was a different person from the one mentioned above, the son of Ariobarzanes II.
Respecting the kings of Cappadocia, see Clinton,
F. H. vol. iii. Appendix, 100.9.
The four coins that have been given above, have been placed under those kings to whom they are usually assigned; but it is quite uncertain to whom they really belong.
The coins of these kings bear only three surnames,
ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ,
ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ, and
ΦΙΛΟΜΗΤΟΡΟΣ. On the reverse of all, Pallas is represented. (Eckhel, iii. p. 198.)
