| Paerisades V | |
|---|---|
 Marble Bust of Bosporan Ruler, late 2nd century BC, possibly Paerisades V. | |
| Last Spartocid King of the Bosporan Kingdom | |
| Reign | 125–109 BC |
| Predecessor | Paerisades IV |
| Successor | Mithridates VI |
| Born | Unknown Panticapaeum |
| Died | circa. 109 BC Panticapaeum |
| Greek | Παιρισάδης |
| House | Spartocid |
| Father | Paerisades III |
| Mother | Kamasarye Philoteknos |
| Religion | Greek Polytheism |
Paerisades V (Greek:Παιρισάδης) was the son ofPaerisades III andKamasarye Philoteknos. He was lastSpartocid ruler of theBosporan Kingdom and ruled from 125 to c. 109 BC after the death of his brotherPaerisades IV Philometor. With his death, ended a dynasty of Bosporan kings that had ruled the Bosporan Kingdom for over 3 centuries, starting in 438 BC with his ancestor Spartokos I.
The kingdom had been under increasing pressure from the nearby Scythians, probably under the rulersSkilurus andPalacus. His elder brother may have been killed by the Scythians, as well as a probable relative named Spartokos VI, though his existence is disputed.
Paerisades V succeeded his elder brotherPaerisades IV in 125 BC, who was already under pressure from invadingScythians who may have caused his death. To improve his relationship with the Scythians, Paerisades V may have adopted an individual named Saumacus. Towards the end of Paerisades's reign,Diophantus, a general in the service ofMithridates VI ofPontus, began attacking the Scythians underPalacus and then made his way to the Bosporan Kingdom's capital ofPanticapaeum. There, he entered into talks with Paerisades to bring the Bosporan Kingdom under the control ofMithridates VI in exchange for his survival. The Bosporan Kingdom was suffering at the time from an economic crisis as well as increasing pressure from the Scythians.Diophantus returned a year later to Paerisades's court to finalise the deal, when Saumacus, Paerisades's adoptive Scythian son, started a rebellion which ended in Paerisades's death and Diophantus barely being able to escape in time.[1]
Diophantus returned with a bigger army and killed Saumacus. He then secured the throne for Mithridates VI, and was called "the first foreign invader to conquer the Scythians"[1]