| Musa | |
|---|---|
| Basilissa | |
 The portrait of Musa on the reverse of aParthian drachm,Ecbatana mint | |
| Queen of theParthian Empire | |
| Reign | 2 BC – 4 AD |
| Predecessor | Phraates IV |
| Successor | Orodes III |
| Co-ruler | Phraates V (2 BC – 4 AD) |
| Died | 1st-century AD |
| Spouse | Phraates IV |
| Issue | Phraates V |
Musa (also spelledMousa), also known asThea Musa, was a ruling queen of theParthian Empire from 2 BC to 4 AD. Originally an Italian slave-girl, she was given as a gift to the Parthian monarchPhraates IV (r. 37 BC – 2 BC) by theRoman EmperorAugustus (r. 27 BC – 14 AD). She quickly became queen and a favourite of Phraates IV, giving birth to Phraataces (Phraates V). In 2 BC, she had Phraates IV poisoned and made herself, along with Phraates V, the co-rulers of the empire. Their reign was short-lived; they were forced to flee toRome after being deposed by the Parthian nobility, who crownedOrodes III as king.
Musa is the first of only three women to rule asmonarchs inIranian history, the others being the two 7th-centurySasanian sistersBoran (r. 630–630, 631–632) andAzarmidokht (r. 630–631). Other female rulers,Rinnu,Ifra Hormizd andDenag, ruled only as regents of their sons and not as full monarchs in their own name.
Musa was an Italian slave-girl who was given to theParthian monarchPhraates IV (r. 37 BC – 2 BC) as a gift by theRoman EmperorAugustus (r. 27 BC – 14 AD). Phraates IV received her around the time a treaty was made in 20 BC,[1] whereby he received his kidnapped son in exchange for returning several Romanlegionary standards captured at theBattle of Carrhae in 53 BC, and the surviving Romanprisoners of war.[2] The Parthians viewed this as a small price to pay to regain the prince.[3] Emma Strugnell (2008) has suggested that Augustus may have sent Musa in an attempt to obtain information or influence the Parthian king to the advantage of the Romans.[4]
According to theParchments of Avroman, Phraates IV already had at least four other queens at that time: Olennieire, Cleopatra, Baseirta and Bistheibanaps.[5] Musa quickly became queen and a favourite of Phraates IV, giving birth to Phraataces (Phraates V) about 19 BC.[6] Seeking to secure the throne for her son, she convinced Phraates IV in 10/9 BC to send his four first-born sons toRome in order to prevent conflict over his succession.[7]
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In 2 BC, Musa had Phraates IV poisoned and made herself and Phraates V the co-rulers of the Parthian Empire.[8] The reverse of Phraates V's later coins notably has an image of his mother, Musa, with a circular legend labelling her as "heavenly", contrary to the square legends which had been typical on Parthian coins, implying that they were at least co-rulers.[9][10] Furthermore, the title ofbasilissa ("queen") was given to her by Phraates V, which was not necessarily only used by the wife of the king in theHellenistic era, but also other royal women.[11]
The 1st-century Roman historianJosephus noted allegations that Musa married her son.[12] However, there is no other evidence that supports or contradicts Josephus' claim; and neither under the Parthians, nor their Iranian predecessors—theAchaemenids—is there reliable evidence that marriage was practiced between parents and their children.[13] The modern historian Joan M. Bigwood calls the report of Josephus "seriously misleading", and points out its striking similarities to the story of theAssyrian queenSemiramis, deducing that his account of Musa was most likely derived from a common folk tale.[14] Leonardo Gregoratti likewise questions the historicity of Josephus' report, calling it "pseudo-historical."[15] He argues that the latter created a "fictional role for the Parthian women to prove the institutional weakness of the Arsacids."[16]
After a short rule, the Parthian nobility, angered by Phraates V's recent acknowledgement of Roman suzerainty in Armenia and his mother's Italian slave descent, deposed them both from the throne and installed a certainOrodes III as king.[17] Phraates V and Musa fled to Rome, where Augustus welcomed them.[18]
Some portraits have been attributed to Musa, including a gold ring and a gem. However, these links with Musa have subsequently been questioned.[19]
A bust of a female figure fromSusa—uncovered in 1939 by the archeologistRoland de Mecquenem—made by a Greek artist named Antiochus, was first attributed to Musa by the Belgian archeologistFranz Cumont.[20] This attribution was agreed by several other scholars.[19] The facial characteristics of the bust, however, has little in common with that of the coins of Musa. The bust is wearing a crown with crenellations, resembling those worn in the Achaemenid era, while the coins of Musa portrayed her wearing adiadem along with a jewelled crown with three layers.[19] The crown with crenellations, albeit often worn by members of the royal family, was also worn by deities.[19] The Greek goddessTyche is sometimes portrayed with a similar crown on Parthian coins.[19] As a result, some scholars have suggested the bust is a portrayal of Tyche.[19]
Musa of Parthia | ||
| Preceded by | Queen of the Parthian Empire 2 BC–4 AD Joint ruler withPhraates V | Succeeded by |