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Posted 07/10/2021 5:51 pm
Thanks, Chris. Always nice to see you visit your old haunts here.
Yes, the Elymaeans enjoyed several periods of relative independence from Parthia while the Arsacids were busy with wars on the fringes, as well as with internal conflicts. During the rule of the Kamnaskirids (essentially covering the first half of the history of Elymais), it was during such periods (when Parthia's focus was elsewhere) that Elymais minted its own coinage. Elymais is sometimes referred to as "semi-autonomous." It's not necessarily that Parthia didn't want to rule Elymais with an iron fist. It's just that Parthia didn't always have the resources to do so, and so they were occasionally forced to extend Elymais some autonomy. During the last two centuries of Elymais' existence (first through early third century), an Arsacid (Parthian) dynasty ruled Elymais. So, Parthia was likely pulling the strings at that point.
Yes, the Elymaeans enjoyed several periods of relative independence from Parthia while the Arsacids were busy with wars on the fringes, as well as with internal conflicts. During the rule of the Kamnaskirids (essentially covering the first half of the history of Elymais), it was during such periods (when Parthia's focus was elsewhere) that Elymais minted its own coinage. Elymais is sometimes referred to as "semi-autonomous." It's not necessarily that Parthia didn't want to rule Elymais with an iron fist. It's just that Parthia didn't always have the resources to do so, and so they were occasionally forced to extend Elymais some autonomy. During the last two centuries of Elymais' existence (first through early third century), an Arsacid (Parthian) dynasty ruled Elymais. So, Parthia was likely pulling the strings at that point.
