Rhodogune of Parthia

Rhodogune was the daughter of the Parthian king Mithridates I (171 BCE-138 BCE), and sister of Phraates II (ruled 138 BCE-127 BCE).

History

In 138 BCE Rhodogune married Seleucid king Demetrius II Nicator (ruled 146-139 BCE, 129-126 BCE). The were kept by her brother in Hyrcania on the shores of the Caspian sea, during which they had several children.

She was presumably abandoned in 131 BCE when Demetrius, after numerous failed attempts to escape from Parthia, was dispatched back to Antioch during the invasion of Parthia by Demetrius' brother, Antiochus VII Sidetes.

During their marriage, was temporarily a hostage in the Parthian court after an ill-fated campaign.

Polyaenus tells us that Rhodogune, informed of a revolt while preparing for a bath, vowed not to bathe or brush her hair until the revolt was neutralised. She immediately went to battle, riding out to the head of her army. She successfully directed the battle, and was depicted thereafter on seals of the kings of Persia with long, disheveled hair because of her adherence to her vow. This incident is also mentioned in the anonymously written Tractatus De Mulieribus, which elaborates further on the story, describing her as being depicted with a golden statue showing her hair half-braided, half unbraided.