Lycomedes of Comana

Lycomedes of Comana (Greek: Λυκομήδης; fl. 1st century BC) was a Bithynian nobleman of Cappadocian Greek descent who ruled Comana, Cappadocia in the second half of the 1st century BC.^[1]

Biography

In 47 BC, Lycomedes was probably about 50 years old when he was named by Roman dictator, Gaius Julius Caesar, the priest of the goddess Bellona in the temple-state of Comana,^[2][3] and sovereign, therefore, of the surrounding country.^[4] The predecessor of Lycomedes was Archelaus, the grandson of the Pontic general Archelaus.^[5] Strabo reports that with Roman client King Polemon I of Pontus, Lycomedes besieged a fortress held by Arsaces, a rebel chief who was guarding the sons of King Pharnaces II of Pontus, until Arsaces surrendered.^[6]

Later Lycomedes was a supporter of Roman triumvir Mark Antony, who at some point enlarged the territory of Lycomedes' kingdom.^[7] Due to Lycomedes’ partisanship with Mark Antony, he was deposed by Octavian after the Battle of Actium.^[8] He was succeeded as priest and ruler, briefly, by the brigand-king Cleon of Gordiucome, and more permanently by Dyteutus.^[9]

Lycomedes had married a Pontian princess called Orsabaris,^[10] the youngest daughter of King Mithridates VI of Pontus,^[11] who bore Lycomedes a daughter named Orodaltis.^[10]

See also

• Orodaltis
• Orsabaris