View source for Musa of Parthia

{{good article}}
{{short description|Co-ruler of the Parthian Empire}}
{{Infobox royalty
|name            = Musa
|title           = [[Basilissa]]
|image           = The portrait of Musa of Parthia on the reverse of a drachm, Ecbatana mint.jpg
|image_size      =
| alt            = image of Musa of Parthia on a coin
|caption         = The portrait of Musa on the reverse of a [[Parthian coinage|Parthian drachm]], [[Ecbatana]] mint
|succession      = Queen of the [[Parthian Empire]]
|reign           = 2 BC – 4 AD
|reg-type        = {{nowrap|Co-ruler}}
|regent          = [[Phraates V]] (2 BC – 4 AD)
|coronation      =
|predecessor     = [[Phraates IV]]
|successor       = [[Orodes III of Parthia|Orodes III]]
|issue           = [[Phraates V]]
|dynasty         =
|father          =
|mother          =
|spouse          = [[Phraates IV]]
|death_date      = 1st-century AD
|death_place     =
|religion        =
}}
'''Musa''' (also spelled '''Mousa'''), also known as '''Thea Musa''', was a ruling queen of the [[Parthian Empire]] from 2 BC to 4 AD. Originally an Italian slave-girl, she was given as a gift to the Parthian monarch [[Phraates IV]] ({{reign|37 BC|2 BC}}) by the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] Emperor [[Augustus]] ({{reign|27 BC|14 AD}}). She quickly became queen and a favourite of Phraates IV, giving birth to Phraataces ([[Phraates V]]). In 2 BC, she had Phraates IV poisoned and made herself, along with Phraates V, the co-rulers of the empire. Their reign was short-lived; they were forced to flee to [[Rome]] after being deposed by the Parthian nobility, who crowned [[Orodes III of Parthia|Orodes III]] as king.

Musa is the first of only three women to rule as [[monarch]]s in [[History of Iran|Iranian history]], the others being the two 7th-century [[Sasanian Empire|Sasanian]] sisters [[Boran]] ({{reign|630|630|631|632}}) and [[Azarmidokht]] ({{reign|630|631}}). Additional women, [[Rinnu]], [[Ifra Hormizd]] and [[Denag]], ruled only as regents of their sons and not as full monarchs in their own name.

==Rise to power==
Musa was an Italian slave-girl who was given to the [[Parthian Empire|Parthian]] monarch [[Phraates IV]] ({{reign|37 BC|2 BC}}) as a gift by the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] Emperor [[Augustus]] ({{reign|27 BC|14 AD}}). Phraates IV received her around the time a treaty was made in 20 BC,{{sfn|Schlude|2020|loc=chapter 5}} whereby he received his kidnapped son in exchange for several Roman [[Aquila (Roman)|legionary standards]] captured at [[Battle of Carrhae|Carrhae]] in 53&nbsp;BC, and the surviving Roman [[Prisoner of war|prisoners of war]].<ref>{{harvnb|Garthwaite|2005|p=80}}; see also {{harvnb|Strugnell|2006|pp=251–252}}</ref> The Parthians viewed this as a small price to pay to regain the prince.{{sfn|Bivar|1983|pp=66–67}} Emma Strugnell (2008) has suggested that Augustus may have sent Musa in an attempt to obtain information or influence the Parthian king to the advantage of the Romans.{{sfn|Strugnell|2008|p=283}} 

According to the [[Parchments of Avroman]], Phraates IV already had at least four other queens at that time: Olennieire, Cleopatra, Baseirta and Bistheibanaps.<ref>{{harvnb|Strugnell|2008|p=283 (see also note 36)}}; {{harvnb|Bigwood|2008|pp=244–245}}</ref> Musa quickly became queen and a favourite of Phraates IV, giving birth to Phraataces ([[Phraates V]]) about 19 BC.<ref>{{harvnb|Kia|2016|p=198}}; {{harvnb|Schippmann|1986|pp=525–536}}; {{harvnb|Bigwood|2004|pp=39–40}}; {{harvnb|Strugnell|2008|p=289 (see also note 53)}}</ref> Seeking to secure the throne for her son, she convinced Phraates IV in 10/9 BC to send his four first-born sons to [[Rome]] in order to prevent conflict over his succession.<ref>{{harvnb|Kia|2016|p=198}}; {{harvnb|Strugnell|2008|pp=284–285}}; {{harvnb|Dąbrowa|2012|p=173}}; {{harvnb|Schippmann|1986|pp=525–536}}</ref>

== Reign ==
[[Image:Coin of Phraatakes (Phraates V) with Musa, Seleucia mint.jpg|thumb|alt=Obverse and reverse sides of a coin of Phraates IV, with the latter portraying Musa|Coin of [[Phraates V]], showing his mother, Musa, on the reverse. Minted at [[Seleucia]]]]

In 2 BC, Musa had Phraates IV poisoned and made herself along with Phraates V the co-rulers of the Parthian Empire.<ref>{{harvnb|Kia|2016|p=199}}; {{harvnb|Richardson|2012|p=161}}</ref> The reverse of Phraates V's later coins notably has an image of his mother, Musa, with a circular legend labelling her as "heavenly", contrary to the square legends which had been typical on Parthian coins, implying that they were at least co-rulers.{{sfn|Rezakhani|2013|p=771}}{{sfn|Bigwood|2004|p=57}} Furthermore, the title of ''[[basilissa]]'' ("queen") was given to her by Phraates V, which was not necessarily only used by the wife of the king in the [[Hellenistic era]], but also other royal women.{{sfn|Bigwood|2004|pp=40, 44, 48, 61}} 

The 1st-century Roman historian [[Josephus]] noted allegations that Musa married her son.{{sfn|Bigwood|2004|pp=43–44}} However, there is no other evidence that supports or contradicts Josephus' claim; and neither under the Parthians, nor their Iranian predecessors—the [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenids]]—is there reliable evidence that marriage was practiced between parents and their children.{{sfn|Bigwood|2004|pp=44–45}} The modern historian Joan M. Bigwood calls the report of Josephus "seriously misleading", and points out its striking similarities to the story of the [[Assyria]]n queen [[Semiramis]], deducing that his account of Musa was most likely derived from a common folk tale.{{sfn|Bigwood|2004|pp=46–47}} Leonardo Gregoratti likewise questions the historicity of Josephus' report, calling it "pseudo-historical."{{sfn|Gregoratti|2012|p=186}} He argues that the latter created a "fictional role for the Parthian women to prove the institutional weakness of the Arsacids."{{sfn|Gregoratti|2012|pp=186, 190}} 

After a short rule, the Parthian nobility, angered by Phraates V's recent acknowledgement of Roman suzerainty in Armenia and his mother's Italian slave descent, deposed them both from the throne and installed a certain [[Orodes III of Parthia|Orodes III]] as king.<ref>{{harvnb|Kia|2016|p=199}}; {{harvnb|Dąbrowa|2012|p=174}}</ref> Phraates V and Musa fled to Rome, where Augustus welcomed them.<ref>{{harvnb|Strugnell|2008|pp=292, 294–295}}; {{harvnb|Marciak|2017|p=378}}</ref>

== Alleged portraits ==
[[Image:Parthian Queen Bust.jpg|thumb|266x266px|alt=Greek marble sculpture found in [[Susa]], at first thought to be that of Musa. Currently stored in the National Museum of Iran.| A Greek bust found in [[Susa]], which was initially thought be that of Musa, now in the [[National Museum of Iran]]]]
Some portraits have been attributed to Musa, including a gold ring and a gem. However, these links with Musa have subsequently been questioned.{{sfn|Bigwood|2004|p=63}} 

A bust of a female figure from [[Susa]]—uncovered in 1939 by the archeologist [[Roland de Mecquenem (archaeologist)|Roland de Mecquenem]]—made by a Greek artist named Antiochus, was first attributed to Musa by the Belgian archeologist [[Franz Cumont]].{{sfn|Cumont|1939|p=339}} This attribution was agreed by several other scholars.{{sfn|Bigwood|2004|p=63}} The facial characteristics of the bust, however, has little in common with that of the coins of Musa. The bust is wearing a crown with crenellations, resembling those worn in the Achaemenid era, while the coins of Musa portrayed her wearing a [[diadem]] along with a jewelled crown with three layers.{{sfn|Bigwood|2004|p=63}} The crown with crenellations, albeit often worn by members of the royal family, was also worn by deities.{{sfn|Bigwood|2004|p=63}} The Greek goddess [[Tyche]] is sometimes portrayed with a similar crown on Parthian coins.{{sfn|Bigwood|2004|p=63}} As a result, some scholars have suggested the bust is a portrayal of Tyche.{{sfn|Bigwood|2004|p=63}}

== References ==
{{reflist|20em}}

== Sources ==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite journal |last=Bigwood|first=Joan M.|year=2004|title=Queen Mousa, Mother and Wife(?) of King Phraatakes of Parthia: A Re-evaluation of the Evidence |journal=Journal of the Classical Association of Canada |publisher=Project Muse|volume=4|issue=1 |pages=35–70 |doi=10.1353/mou.2004.0027|s2cid=164436127}}
* {{Cambridge History of Iran|volume=3a|last=Bivar|first=A.D.H.|chapter=The Political History of Iran Under the Arsacids|pages=21–99}}
* {{cite journal|last=Cumont|first=Franz|year=1939|title=Portrait d'une reine trouvé à Suse|journal=Comptes Rendus des Séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres |volume=83|issue=3|pages=330–341|url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/crai_0065-0536_1939_num_83_3_77198|oclc=1014584127}}
* {{cite book |first1=Edward |last1=Dąbrowa |editor1-last=Daryaee |editor1-first=Touraj |editor1-link=Touraj Daryaee |title=The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History |date=2012 |publisher=Oxford University Press |chapter=The Arsacid Empire |pages=1–432 |isbn=978-0-19-987575-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K-poAgAAQBAJ |access-date=2019-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101051501/https://books.google.dk/books?id=K-poAgAAQBAJ&pg |archive-date=2019-01-01 |url-status=dead }}
* {{citation|last=Garthwaite|first=Gene Ralph|title=The Persians|year=2005|publisher=Blackwell Publishing, Ltd.|location=Oxford & Carlton|isbn=978-1-55786-860-2}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Gregoratti |first1=Leonardo |editor1-last=Hirschberger |editor1-first=Martina |title=Parthian Women in Flavius Josephus |journal=Jüdisch-hellenistische Literatur in Ihrem Interkulturellen Kontext |date=2012 |pages=183–192 |url=https://www.academia.edu/1160199 |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book|last1=Kia|first1=Mehrdad|title=The Persian Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia [2 volumes]|date=2016|publisher=ABC-CLIO|location=Santa Barbara|isbn=978-1610693912|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B5BHDAAAQBAJ&q=false}}
* {{cite book|last=Marciak|first=Michał|title=Sophene, Gordyene, and Adiabene: Three Regna Minora of Northern Mesopotamia Between East and West|date=2017|publisher=BRILL|isbn=9789004350724|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hwEtDwAAQBAJ}}
* {{cite book |last1=Rezakhani |first1=Khodadad |author-link1=Khodadad Rezakhani|editor-last=Potts|editor-first=Daniel T.|title=The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Iran |date=2013 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |pages = 766–777 |isbn=978-0199733309 |chapter=Arsacid, Elymaean, and Persid Coinage}}
* {{cite book|first=J.S.|last=Richardson|title=Augustan Rome 44 BC to AD 14: The Restoration of the Republic and the Establishment of the Empire|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0-7486-1954-2}}
* {{Encyclopaedia Iranica | title = Arsacids ii. The Arsacid dynasty | last = Schippmann | first = K. | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/arsacids-ii | volume = 2 | fascicle = 5 | pages = 525–536 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Schlude |first1=Jason M. |title=Search Results Web results Rome, Parthia, and the Politics of Peace |date=2020 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |isbn=9-781-35113-569-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OWbMDwAAQBAJ&q=musa&pg=PT114}}
* {{Citation |doi=10.1556/AAnt.46.2006.3.3 |last=Strugnell |first=Emma |year=2006 |title=Ventidius' Parthian War: Rome's Forgotten Eastern Triumph |journal=Acta Antiqua |volume=46 |issue= 3|pages=239–252 }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Strugnell |first1=Emma |title=Thea Musa, Roman Queen of Parthia |journal=Iranica Antiqua |date=2008 |volume=43 |pages=275–298 |doi=10.2143/IA.43.0.2024051}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite journal |last1=Bigwood|first1=Joan M.|title=Some Parthian Queens in Greek and Babylonian Documents  |journal=Iranica Antiqua |date=2008 |volume=43 |pages=235–274|doi=10.2143/IA.43.0.2024050}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Arsacid Empire|Arsacid dynasty]]||||}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Phraates IV of Parthia|Phraates IV]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Parthian monarchs|Queen of the Parthian Empire]]|years=2 BC–4 AD<br>Joint ruler with [[Phraates V]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Orodes III of Parthia|Orodes III]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Parthian kings}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Musa of Parthia}}

[[Category:1st-century BC Parthian monarchs]]
[[Category:1st-century BC queens regnant]]
[[Category:1st-century queens regnant]]
[[Category:1st-century BC Roman women]]
[[Category:1st-century BC Romans]]
[[Category:People of ancient Roman descent]]
[[Category:1st-century Parthian monarchs]]
[[Category:Former slaves]]
[[Category:1st-century BC births]]
[[Category:1st-century deaths]]
[[Category:Queens consort of Parthia]]
[[Category:Imperial Roman slaves and freedmen]]
[[Category:Queens regnant in Asia]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Year of death unknown]]