KINGS OF CHARACENE. Apodakos, circa 110/09-104/03 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 31 mm, 16.29 g, 12 h), Charax-Spasinou, SE 209 = 104/3. Diademed head of Apodakos to right. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΑΓΓΟΔΑΚΟΥ (sic!) Herakles seated left, holding club set on his knee with his right hand and leaning left on rock draped with lion skin; in outer field to left, monogram; in exergue, ΘΣ (date). Alram -. De Morgan -. P. Pasmans: De zilveren muntslag in naam van Hyspaosines (132/1-121/0 v.Chr.) en zijn opvolger Apodakos (112/1-103/2 v.Chr.), koningen van Characene: in Diestse Studiekring voor Numismatiek, Jubileumboek 2006-2021 (Numismatic Studies 3, 2021), 54-64. Sunrise -. Rare and in unusually attractive condition for this difficult issue, with an excellent late Hellenistic portrait. With the usual traces of overstriking and minor areas of horn silver, otherwise, about extremely fine.


Apodakos ruled the Kingdom of Characene toward the end of the 2nd century BC. According to the Babylonian Astronomical Diaries, after the death of the elderly kingdom founder and former Seleukid satrap Hyspaosines in 124 BC, his widow Talasi'asu installed their underage son as ruler. Since the son's name is not mentioned, it remains uncertain whether he was Apodakos. However, the continuity in Characenean numismatic iconography suggests a close connection between Hyspaosines and Apodakos, making a father-son relationship likely.

The name Talasi'asu is particularly fascinating: it corresponds to the Greek name Θαλασσία (Thalassia), best translated as 'she who rules the sea'. The aptness of this name is highlighted by a recently discovered Greek inscription from Bahrain, where Thalassia is mentioned, confirming that Bahrain was part of the Characenean realm at the time. The contect of inscription also reveals that the island was previously under Seleukid control, indicating that Seleukid influence in the Persian Gulf extended much farther and lasted much longer than previously assumed.