Aka II of Commagene
Encyclopedia
Aka II of Commagene, also known as Aka II was a Princess from the Kingdom of Commagene
, who lived between the 1st century BC and 1st century. She was of Armenia
n and Greek
descent.
There are two possibilities on the origins of Aka II. She could have been the daughter of Prince Antiochus II of Commagene
, who was the second son to King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
and Queen Isias
Philostorgos of Commagene. The second possibility she could have been the daughter of Aka I of Commagene
. Aka I was the daughter of Princess Antiochis of Commagene
. Antiochis, who was the second daughter to King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
and Queen Isias
Philostorgos of Commagene, thus was a sister to Antiochus II. Although Aka II was a direct descendant of Antiochus I Theos and Isias, she was either a granddaughter or great granddaughter to them.
Aka married an Egypt
ian Greek
called Thrasyllus of Mendes
who originally came from a Greek family in Mendes
, Egypt. Thrasyllus was an Alexandria
n grammarian, editor of Plato
and Democritus
, however was most noted as an astrologer. Thrasyllus became a friend to the future Roman Emperor
Tiberius
and through Tiberius’ influence, Thrasyllus and Aka II received Roman citizenship
.
Aka II bore Thrasyllus two children who were:
Note this article is partly based from the information of article Thrasyllus of Mendes from Wikipedia.
Kingdom of Commagene
The Kingdom of Commagene was an ancient kingdom of the Hellenistic Age.Little is known of the region of Commagene prior to the beginning of the 2nd century BC. However, it seems that, from what little evidence remains, Commagene formed part of a larger state that also included Sophene...
, who lived between the 1st century BC and 1st century. She was of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n and Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
descent.
There are two possibilities on the origins of Aka II. She could have been the daughter of Prince Antiochus II of Commagene
Antiochus II of Commagene
Antiochus II Epiphanes, also known as Antiochus II of Commagene was a man of Armenian and Greek descent. Antiochus II was a prince from the Kingdom of Commagene and the second son of King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene and Queen Isias Philostorgos...
, who was the second son to King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
Antiochus I Theos Dikaios Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellenos Antiochus I Theos Dikaios Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellenos Antiochus I Theos Dikaios Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellenos (Greek: о Αντίοχος Θεός Δίκαιος Επιφανής Φιλορωμαίος Φιλέλλην, meaning Antiochos, a just, eminent god, friend...
and Queen Isias
Isias
Isias, surnamed Philostorgos or Philostorgus was a Princess of Cappadocia who lived in the 1st century BC. Through her marriage to King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene, she became the Queen of Commagene. Very little is known on her. She was half Persian and half Greek...
Philostorgos of Commagene. The second possibility she could have been the daughter of Aka I of Commagene
Aka I of Commagene
Aka I of Commagene, also known as Aka I was a Princess from the Kingdom of Commagene, who lived in the 1st century BC. Aka I was of Greek and Armenian descent....
. Aka I was the daughter of Princess Antiochis of Commagene
Antiochis of Commagene
Antiochis of Commagene was a Princess from the Kingdom of Commagene, who lived in the 1st century BC. Antiochis was of Greek and Armenian descent....
. Antiochis, who was the second daughter to King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
Antiochus I Theos Dikaios Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellenos Antiochus I Theos Dikaios Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellenos Antiochus I Theos Dikaios Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellenos (Greek: о Αντίοχος Θεός Δίκαιος Επιφανής Φιλορωμαίος Φιλέλλην, meaning Antiochos, a just, eminent god, friend...
and Queen Isias
Isias
Isias, surnamed Philostorgos or Philostorgus was a Princess of Cappadocia who lived in the 1st century BC. Through her marriage to King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene, she became the Queen of Commagene. Very little is known on her. She was half Persian and half Greek...
Philostorgos of Commagene, thus was a sister to Antiochus II. Although Aka II was a direct descendant of Antiochus I Theos and Isias, she was either a granddaughter or great granddaughter to them.
Aka married an Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
called Thrasyllus of Mendes
Thrasyllus of Mendes
Thrasyllus of Mendes, whose full name was Tiberius Claudius Thrasyllus , was an Egyptian Greek grammarian and literary commentator from Mendes, Egypt...
who originally came from a Greek family in Mendes
Mendes
Mendes , the Greek name of the Ancient Egyptian city of Djedet, also known in Ancient Egypt as Per-Banebdjedet and Anpet, is known today as Tell El-Ruba ....
, Egypt. Thrasyllus was an Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
n grammarian, editor of Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
and Democritus
Democritus
Democritus was an Ancient Greek philosopher born in Abdera, Thrace, Greece. He was an influential pre-Socratic philosopher and pupil of Leucippus, who formulated an atomic theory for the cosmos....
, however was most noted as an astrologer. Thrasyllus became a friend to the future Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
and through Tiberius’ influence, Thrasyllus and Aka II received Roman citizenship
Roman citizenship
Citizenship in ancient Rome was a privileged political and legal status afforded to certain free-born individuals with respect to laws, property, and governance....
.
Aka II bore Thrasyllus two children who were:
- A son, Tiberius Claudius BalbilusTiberius Claudius BalbilusTiberius Claudius Balbillus or Balbilus, also known as ‘Balbillus the Wise‘, was an Egyptian Greek astrologer and a learned scholar. Balbillus was the son of astrologer Tiberius Claudius Thrasyllus, also known as Thrasyllus of Mendes and Princess Aka II of Commagene, who was either a granddaughter...
. Through Balbilus they would become the paternal grandparents to Claudia CapitolinaClaudia CapitolinaClaudia Capitolina was an Egyptian Greek woman who lived in the Roman Empire, in the 1st century and possibly in the 2nd century. Capitolina came from a distinguished family of Equestrian rank. She was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt. Capitolina was the daughter and only child of Tiberius...
, who was the daughter of Balbilus. Capitolina would marry the Greek Prince from the Kingdom of CommageneKingdom of CommageneThe Kingdom of Commagene was an ancient kingdom of the Hellenistic Age.Little is known of the region of Commagene prior to the beginning of the 2nd century BC. However, it seems that, from what little evidence remains, Commagene formed part of a larger state that also included Sophene...
called Gaius Julius Archelaus Antiochus EpiphanesGaius Julius Archelaus Antiochus EpiphanesGaius Julius Archelaus Antiochus Epiphanes, also known as Julius Archelaus Epiphanes; Epiphanes; Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes or simply known as Gaius was an influential prince of the Kingdom of Commagene, who lived in the 1st century.Epiphanes was the first-born son and child to King...
. Through Capitolina, Aka II and Thrasyllus would become the great, grandparents of Capitolina’s children with Epiphanes who were: prince Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes PhilopapposPhilopapposGaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos or Philopappus, was a Prince of the Kingdom of Commagene who lived in the Roman Empire during the 1st century and 2nd century. He was one of the most prominent Greeks who lived in the Roman Empire....
and princess Julia BalbillaJulia BalbillaJulia Balbilla was a noble Roman woman and a poet who lived between the 1st century and 2nd century in the Roman Empire.-Family & Early Life:...
. - A daughter EuniaEuniaEunia, sometimes known as Ennia, was a Greek woman who lived in the 1st century Roman Empire. According to Suetonius she is known as Ennia Naeva .Eunia was of Greek and Armenian descent...
, who married the Praetorian prefectPraetorian prefectPraetorian prefect was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders becoming the Emperor's chief aides...
Naevius Sutorius MacroNaevius Sutorius MacroQuintus Naevius Cordus Sutorius Macro was a prefect of the Praetorian Guard, from 31 until 38, serving under the Roman Emperors Tiberius and Caligula...
.
Sources
- http://fabpedigree.com/s005/f082864.htm
- http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Claudius_Balbillus
- Chahin, Mark (2001). The Kingdom of Armenia. Routlege, pp. 190-191. ISBN 0-7007-1452-9.
Note this article is partly based from the information of article Thrasyllus of Mendes from Wikipedia.