Polemon II of Pontus

Polemon II, also known as Julius Polemon, Polemon of Cilicia or Marcus Antonius Polemon Pythodoros (Greek Μάρκος Αντώνιος Πολέμων Πυθόδωρος; * 12/11 BC; † after 68 AD ) was a prince and ruler of the Roman vassal regions Pontus, Colchis and Cilicia. He was the last ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus, has been converted into a Roman province during his reign of Emperor Nero.

Polemon was a son of Cotys, son of the Thracian king Rhoimetalkes I., and the Pontic Queen Antonia Tryphaena. This was a granddaughter of the generals Mark Antony. Polemons father died 8 BC, after which his mother married King Archelaus of Cappadocia. The family moved to Cappadocia, where Polemon grew up with his siblings. Archelaus died in the year 17 AD, after which the family again retired to Pontus.

From 17-38 Polemon lived in Pontos and helped his mother in the management of their empire. When his mother died in the year 38, managed Polemon, follow her as sole ruler of Pontus, Colchis and Cilicia.

Around the year 50 came around Polemon II of the Judean princess Julia Berenice closer, who he met in Tiberias during a visit of King Agrippa I.. They married shortly afterwards, but that meant that Polemon converted to Judaism. The marriage lasted only for a short period of time, Julia went back to Judea and Polemon was according to legend of the Apostle Bartholomew Christian, but only in order to then turn back to paganism.

Polemon II named the city Fanizan (today Fatsa Turkey) after his name Polemonium. In the year 62, the Roman emperor Nero called for him to resign, whereupon Pontus and Colchis were Roman provinces. Polemon remained only the domination of Cilicia, which he held until his death.

Swell

• Flavius ​​Josephus, Antiquities Judaicae 19, 8 ​​, 1; 20, 7, 3