Ariazate (also spelled Aryzate or Aryazate, meaning "Child of an Iranian"),[1][2] also known as Automa,[3] was a Parthian queen consort as the wife of the Parthian monarch Gotarzes I (r. 91–87/80 BC).
She was an Artaxiad princess of Armenia as the daughter of the Artaxiad king Tigranes the Great (r. 95–55 BC).[4]
According to Zoroastrian law, the king could marry several women,[5] all of whom were normally given the Greek title “basilissa” (“queen”), as well as legitimate wives without a title and have sons considered legitimate with the palace slave women and Greek hetaira used to entertain in his banquets, but no hierarchy is known for the queen-wives.
Ariazate was possibly the mother of Gotarze's son and successor Orodes I (r. 87/80–75 BC).[6]
- ^ Romeny 2010, p. 264.
- ^ Russell 1987, p. 89, "The name Ariazate is clearly composed of two Iranian elements, OIr. arya- 'Iranian' and the suffix -zät 'born, i.e., son or daughter of'".
- ^ Højte 2009, pp. 169, 360.
- ^ Dąbrowa 2018, p. 77.
- ^ Lerouge, Ch. 2007. L’image des Parthes dans le monde gréco-romain. Stuttgart.
- ^ Assar 2006, pp. 67, 74.