Elymais


Elymais or Elamais was an autonomous state of the 2nd century BC to the early 3rd century AD, frequently a vassal under Parthian control, and located at the head of the Persian Gulf in the present-day region of Khuzestan, Iran. The Elymaeans were skilled archers and natives of Susa, which lay to the east of the territory of Elymais. Most of the people of the kingdom were probably descendants of the ancient Elamites, who once had control of that area in the past. The provinces of Elymais were Massabatice, Corbiane and Gabiane.
Nothing is known of their language, even though Elamite was still used by the Achaemenid Empire 250 years before the kingdom of Elymais came into existence. A number of Aramaic inscriptions are found in Elymais. The kingdom of Elymais survived until its extinction by a Sasanian invasion in the early 3rd century AD.

Coinage

The coins of Elymais depicted a king; it is not known whether this was a Parthian king or a local ruler, as such information has not come to light. These coins were based on Greek standards of debased Drachms and Tetradrachms. The royal picture is generally based on Parthian coinage, usually with an anchor with a star in crescent figure. The reverse has a figure or bust of Artemis with text around it, an eagle, or often only elongated dots.
A variant of Aramaic, which was more conservative than the contemporary Late Old Eastern Aramaic spoken in eastern Mesopotamia, has been recorded in Elymais until the rise of the Sasanians. The chancellery of Elymais developed its own variant the Aramaic alphabet, which was characterized by cursive letters and frequent use of ligatures, apparently influenced by the contemporary Parthian chancellery script. However, there is no evidence that Aramaic was a spoken language in Elymais. It is recorded only in coins and inscriptions, such as those of Tang-e Sarvak.

Kings of Elymais

The Kamnaskirid line

List of rulers
  1. Kamnaskires I Megas Soter
  2. Kamnaskires II Nikephoros
  3. Okkonapses
  4. Tigraios
  5. Darius
  6. Kamnaskires III with Anzaze
  7. Kamnaskires IV
  8. Kamnaskires V
  9. Kamnaskires VI
  10. Kamnaskires VII
  11. Kamnaskires VIII

    The Arsacid line

Beginning with Orodes, a cadet branch of the Arsacids took over the kingdom.
  1. Orodes I
  2. Orodes II son of Orodes I
  3. Phraates son of Orodes
  4. Orodes III son of Orodes II
  5. Kamnaskires-Orodes son of Orodes II
  6. Ariobarzanes
  7. Osroes
  8. Unknown King I
  9. Orodes IV & Ulpan
  10. Abarbasi
  11. Orodes V son of Beldusa
  12. Vologases
  13. Unknown King II
  14. Unknown King III
  15. Orodes VI