Dynastic marriages in the Hellenistic world were an important diplomatic tool that provided
distinct political benefi ts to one or both of the parties involved. The Parthian rulers from the
Arsacid dynasty also engaged in such unions with other ruling houses. Surviving sources contain
information on such marriages with the members of the Seleucid family, the Artaxiad dynasty,
which ruled in Armenia, but also ruling houses in Commagene and Media Atropatene. Not all of
these links resulted from a bilateral agreement, however; some were the result of imposition of the
Arsacids’ will. The author attempts to demonstrate the circumstances in which each of the known
dynastic marriages of the rulers of Parthia came about, as well as the objectives they hoped to
achieve as a result
keywords in English:
Arsacids, Artaxiads, Seleucids, Commagene, Media Atropatene, dynastic marriages