Sophene

The Sophene ( Šupa Assyrian, Greek Σωφηνή, Armenian Ծոփք - Tsopk ) was a province of the Armenian and the Roman Empire. She was east of the Euphrates and of Melitene, located northeast of the Commagene and northwest of Gordyene. With the eastern Sophanene Sophene often formed a unit and both were geographically attributed to Armenia. From the 2nd century BC to 54 had Sophene own kings but were often dependent.

In around 200 BC Antiochus III conquered. Armenia and Tsopk and put the Armenian General Artaxias and Zariades as governors and strategists in the two kingdoms one. After the defeat of Antiochus III. at the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BC against the Romans, the two generals declared themselves independent kings. Zariades and his successors ruled the kingdom until it Tsopk of Tigranes the Great in 80 BC was united with the rest of Armenia.

Later it became a Roman province with Amida as its capital. To 54 the province of Gaius Julius Sohaemus dominated. 530 AD Sophene was integrated into the Byzantine province Armeniakon.

Sophene is referred to in Urartian sources as Supa, in Assyrian sources as Suppo.