1. Artaxias I was the founder of the Artaxiad dynasty of Armenia, ruling from 189 BC to 160 BC.
14 Facts About Artaxias I
1. 2.
Artaxias I expanded his kingdom on all sides, consolidating the territory of Greater Armenia.
3.
Artaxias I enacted a number of administrative reforms to order his expanded realm.
4.
Artaxias I founded a new capital in the central valley of the Araxes River called Artaxata, which quickly grew into a major urban and commercial center.
5.
However, the discovery of boundary stones with Aramaic inscriptions in Armenia in which Artaxias I proclaims himself to be an "Orontid king" and "the son of Zareh " has proven that Artaxias I and Zariadres were not Macedonian generals from outside of Armenia but members of the local Orontid dynasty, albeit probably belonging to different branches than the original ruling house.
6.
The kingdom of Artaxias I, originally centered around the Araxes valley, expanded into Iberian land and especially the territory of Media Atropatene, which lost its territories bordering the Caspian Sea.
7.
Strabo reports that Artaxias I conquered from Atropatene the districts of "Phaunitis" and "Basoropeda," perhaps corresponding to Syunik and Parspatunik, respectively.
8.
Khorenatsi reports that Artaxias I resettled residents from Eruandashat and Armavir to Artaxata and transferred the idols of Tir, Anahit, and various other statues from Bagaran.
9.
Artaxias I founded the city of Arxata, which was mentioned by Strabo, as well as the cities of Zarehavan and Zarishat, which were both named after his father, Zariadres.
10.
The first coins depicting Artaxias I bear the Aramaic inscription "King Artashes" and have depictions of a dog, a bee, the head of an unknown bearded male, an eagle, and the head of Antiochus IV.
11.
The epic relates how Artaxias I married the Alan princess Satenik after fighting with the Alans, which is narrated in detail by Khorenatsi.
12.
Some verses from the epic regarding the death of Artaxias I are preserved in the Letters of the 11th-century Armenian scholar Grigor Magistros.
13.
The 19th-century Armenian poet Bedros Tourian wrote a play about Artaxias I titled, which was first performed in 1870.
14.
Artaxias I has been depicted in painting by Mkrtum Hovnatanian.