Satyrus I (, died 389 BC) was the Spartocid ruler of the

Bosporan Kingdom The Bosporan Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus (; ), was an ancient Greco-Scythians, Scythian state located in eastern Crimea and the Taman Peninsula on the shores of the Cimmerian Bosporus, centered in the present-day ...

from 432 BC to 389 BC. During his rule he built upon the expansive foreign policy of his father, Spartocus I. He conquered Nymphaion, became involved in the political developments of the neighbouring Sindike kingdom and laid siege to the city of Theodosia, which was a serious commercial rival because of its ice-free

port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manch ...

and proximity to the grain fields of eastern

Crimea Crimea ( ) is a peninsula in Eastern Europe, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, almost entirely surrounded by the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. The Isthmus of Perekop connects the peninsula to Kherson Oblast in mainland Ukrain ...

. He presided over a strengthening of ties with

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

, and at one point possibly had a statue raised in his honour in the city. He was also the father of Leucon and Gorgippus, who expanded their realm into a powerful kingdom.

Reign

Satyrus I was a leading figure in the expansion of his father's kingdom, initially gaining some success by taking

Nymphaeum A ''nymphaeum'' (Latin : ''nymphaea'') or ''nymphaion'' (), in ancient Greece and Rome, was a monument consecrated to the nymphs, especially those of springs. These monuments were originally natural grottoes, which tradition assigned as habit ...

from Gylon and perhaps

Kimmerikon Kimmerikón (Greek language, Greek , ) was an Ancient Greeks, ancient Greek city in Crimea, on the southern shore of the Kerch Peninsula, at the western slope of Opuk (mountain), Opuk mountain, roughly 40 kilometres southwest of modern Kerch. It w ...

, but later had extensive problems with the neighbouring Sindike Kingdom, with which he had started an unsuccessful war, and the Greek city-states of Theodosia and

Heraclea Pontica Heraclea Pontica (; ; , ), known in Byzantine and later times as Pontoheraclea (), was an ancient city on the coast of Bithynia in Asia Minor, at the mouth of the river Lycus. The site is now the location of the modern city Karadeniz Ereğli, in ...

. He allowed the son of his powerful minister Sopaeus to travel to Athens with two ships filled with wheat. Sopaeus' son's ships managed to avoid pirates and arrived at Athens. Once in Athens, his son met with the Athenian banker,

Pasion Pasion (also Pasio; ; 440 – 370 BC) was a slave who rose to become a successful banker and Athenian citizen in Ancient Athens in the early 4th century BC. Life Pasion was born some time before 430 BC. It is unknown where Pasion came from ...

, and managed to settle his affairs. Satyrus, however, came to the view that Sopaeus was involved in a conspiracy to take his life, so he had Sopaeus arrested. As Sopaeus's son was still in Athens, Satyrus ordered the Bosporans in Athens to confiscate the son's property and force him to return to the Bosporan Kingdom. Afterwards Satyrus acquitted Sopaeus of his crimes and agreed to Sopaeus's daughter, Theodosia, marrying his son Leucon.

Problems with the Sindi

Satyrus encountered extensive problems with the Sindi. According to Polyaenus, the problems arose because Satyrus I had offered his daughter to Hecactaeus, the king of the Sindi, but had instructed Hecactaeus to kill his existing wife,

Tirgatao Tirgatao (Scythian: ; Ancient Greek: , romanized: ) was a princess of the Maeotes mentioned by Polyaenus. She was the first wife of the Sindian king Hecataeus, and was a notable participant of the Bosporan wars of expansion. Name The name T ...

. Instead of killing her, Hecactaeus had her imprisoned in a tower, from which she was able to escape and reach her tribe, the

Ixomatae The Maeotians (; ; ) were an ancient people dwelling along the Sea of Azov, which was known in antiquity as the " Maeotian marshes" or "Lake Maeotis".James, Edward Boucher"Maeotae" and "Maeotis Palus"in the ''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geogr ...

. Tirgatao married her father's successor, her father presumably being king of the Ixomatae, and roused many tribes to make war against Satyrus. Satyrus, realising that he could not win, offered his son Metrodorus as a hostage and sued for peace. Shortly after this, there was an attempt on Tirgatao's life, likely organized by Satyrus. After finding out about this scheme, Tirgatao had Metrodorus killed, and once again waged war on Satyrus. This war was ended by Leucon and Gorgippus shortly after their father's death and their ascent to the throne.

Death and legacy

Satyrus died in the unsuccessful Siege of Theodosia in 389 BC at the age of 81, his death leading to the ascension to Leucon and Gorgippus, who expanded the Bosporan Kingdom.

References

Bibliography

* * * * Monarchs of the Bosporan Kingdom 5th-century BC monarchs 4th-century BC monarchs 387 BC deaths Year of birth unknown Spartocid dynasty {{AncientGreece-royal-stub

Reign

Problems with the Sindi

Death and legacy

See also

References

Bibliography