Meredates of Characene

Meredates was a king of Charakene, who reigned about 131-150/151.

1984 was found in Seleucia on the Tigris, a bronze statue of Hercules, which has an inscription on the thighs in two languages ​​(Greek and Parthian ). The inscription says that in the year 151 of the Parthian king Vologaeses IV fought against Meredates and this distribution under the king from the Charakene. The statue itself was brought from the Charakene and been placed in the temple of Apollo of Seleucia on the Tigris. From this inscription it can be concluded that the Charakene some time was independent, but was then conquered by the Parthians. Meredates is also of some coins and an inscription found in Palmyra known (see Yarhai ). He was the son of the Parthian king Pacorus. His coin images clearly show Parthian influence, which is consistent with its origin from the Parthian royal house. The coin legends are: Meredates, son of Phokoros, King of Kings, King of the Omani. The Omani it is a dominated by the Charakene Arab tribe. The assignment of the imprints of the Meredates as charakenisch has, however, been questioned because of their different style.