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| O:Diademed head of Ariarathes VII | R:Athena holdingNike withwreath and resting hand onshield,spear behind; monograms in field ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ / ΦΙΛΟΜΗΤΟΡΟΣ |
| Silverdrachm struck inEusebeia orTyana 106 BC; ref.: SNGCop 141 IA inexergue is aGreek numeral and means 11th year of reign | |
Ariarathes VII Philometor ("mother-loving") (Ancient Greek:Ἀριαράθης Φιλομήτωρ, Ariaráthēs Philomḗtōr; reigned in 116–101 BC or 111–100 BC), King ofCappadocia, was the first son of KingAriarathes VI of Cappadocia and his wifeLaodice of Cappadocia. Ariarathes VII had an older sister calledNysa and a younger brother calledAriarathes VIII of Cappadocia.
In his first years he reigned under the regency of his mother Laodice, the eldest sister of the KingMithridates VI of Pontus. During this period the kingdom was seized by KingNicomedes III of Bithynia, who married Nysa. Nicomedes III was soon expelled by Mithridates VI, who restored upon the throne Ariarathes VII. However, Ariarathes objected toGordius, his father's assassin and ally of Mithridates VI, having a role in the government of Cappadocia. So Mithridates had Ariarathes VII murdered in 101 BC. Mithridates VI then put onto the Cappadocian throne his own 9 -year-old son,Ariarathes IX of Cappadocia, with Gordius as regent for the young king.
| Preceded by | King of Cappadocia 116 BC – 101 BC | Succeeded by |