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Area/Ruler: Cilicia: King Tarkondimotus
Reigned: 39 BC - 31 BC
Denomination: AE 20mm
Obverse: King's diademed head right.
Reverse: Zeus enthroned left, holding Nike and scepter. "ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ TΑΡΚΟΔΙΗΟΤΩϒ" In exergue: "ΦΙΛΑΝϒΩNIOY"
Reference: RPC I 3871; SNG Levante 1258
Weight: 8.1 gms
Diameter: 21.1 mm

CILICIA

Cilicia was an ancient region of Asia Minor, extending along the north and northeast shores of the Gulf of Alexandretta, from the Taurus Mountains to the Amanos Mountains, now comprising the southern and central provinces of Içel and Adana in Turkey. The principal cities were Tarsus, Seleucia (now Silifke), and Issus, which was prosperous during the Roman Empire. From the 6th to the 4th century BC, when most of Asia Minor was under the control of the Persian Achaemenids, Cilicia was an independent kingdom paying tribute to Persia or part of a Persian satrapy. After the conquests of Alexander the Great, during the Hellenistic period, from the 4th to the 2nd century BC, most of Cilicia was part of the Seleucid Empire. Eastern Cilicia was conquered by the Romans in 103 BC, and all of Cilicia became a Roman province about 67 BC.

King Tarcondimotus supported Pompey against Caesar, then Cassius against Octavian (Augustus) and Anthony against Octavian. After Anthony's defeat, his sons deserted to Octavian.

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