Aka I of Commagene
Encyclopedia
Aka I of Commagene, also known as Aka I (Greek:η Άκα) was a Princess from the Kingdom of Commagene
, who lived in the 1st century BC. Aka I was of Greek
and Armenia
n descent.
Aka I was the daughter of Princess Antiochis of Commagene
and the identity of her father is unknown. Her maternal grandparents were King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
and Queen Isias
Philostorgos of Commagene.
Unfortunately very little is known on Aka I. She appeared to have died of unknown causes sometime between the late 30s or early 20s BC. Aka I was buried along with her maternal grandmother and her mother on a burial site. This burial site was a monument known as the Karakush or Karakus Tumulus, also known as The Black Bird. The monument received its name because there is a column topped by an eagle, which has earned the mound name.
This burial sanctuary was constructed and built by her maternal uncle King Mithridates II of Commagene
. Mithridates II built this sanctuary to bury and honour the lives and the memories of Aka I, her mother and her maternal grandmother. It is located 12 km or 7.5 miles from Kahta
, Turkey
. Each tumulus is surrounded by groups of three Doric
Columns. Each column was about 9 metres or 29.5 feet high. It is topped with steles, reliefs and statues of a bull, lion and eagle.
This monument has Greek honorific inscriptions, which provides information about this site. It is inscribed on the external face of the two drums of the central column of the Northeast. Skipping a couple of phrases where restoration has been doubtful, the inscription reads:
After the Kingdom of Commagene
was annexed in 72 by the Roman Emperor
Vespasian
, the vault of the tomb has been looted. There is a possibility that the Princess Aka II of Commagene
could be her daughter.
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 in the 1st century BC. Aka I was of 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....
and Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n 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....
and the identity of her father is unknown. Her maternal grandparents were 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.
Unfortunately very little is known on Aka I. She appeared to have died of unknown causes sometime between the late 30s or early 20s BC. Aka I was buried along with her maternal grandmother and her mother on a burial site. This burial site was a monument known as the Karakush or Karakus Tumulus, also known as The Black Bird. The monument received its name because there is a column topped by an eagle, which has earned the mound name.
This burial sanctuary was constructed and built by her maternal uncle King Mithridates II of Commagene
Mithridates II of Commagene
Mithridates II Antiochus Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellenos Monocritis, also known as Mithridates II of Commagene was a man of Armenian and Greek descent who lived in the 1st century BC. He was a prince of Commagene and one of the sons of King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene and Queen Isias...
. Mithridates II built this sanctuary to bury and honour the lives and the memories of Aka I, her mother and her maternal grandmother. It is located 12 km or 7.5 miles from Kahta
Kahta
Kâhta is a large district of Adıyaman Province of Turkey. Population 63,216 . The mayor is İbrahim Yusuf Turanlı .Kâhta is a small town in attractive countryside at the foot of Nemrut Dağı and has a thriving business providing food, accommodation and transport to people visiting the mountain...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Each tumulus is surrounded by groups of three Doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
Columns. Each column was about 9 metres or 29.5 feet high. It is topped with steles, reliefs and statues of a bull, lion and eagle.
This monument has Greek honorific inscriptions, which provides information about this site. It is inscribed on the external face of the two drums of the central column of the Northeast. Skipping a couple of phrases where restoration has been doubtful, the inscription reads:
- This is the hierothesion [sacred site or foundation] of Isias, whom the great King Mithridates (she being his own mother)…deemed worthy of this final hour. And…Antiochis lies herein, the king’s sister by the same mother, the most beautiful of women, whose life was short but her honours long-enduring. Both of these, as you see, preside here, and with them a daughter’s daughter, the daughter of Antiochis, Aka. A memorial of life with each other and of the king’s honour.
After the Kingdom of Commagene
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...
was annexed in 72 by the 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...
Vespasian
Vespasian
Vespasian , was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
, the vault of the tomb has been looted. There is a possibility that the Princess Aka II of Commagene
Aka II of Commagene
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 Armenian and Greek descent.There are two possibilities on the origins of Aka II...
could be her daughter.