Pages: 97-116

The study was conducted to clarify the current understanding of the situation on the Bosporus during the reign of Aspurgus (14/15—37/38 AD). The objects of study were the coins of this sovereign, lapidary inscriptions in the texts of which he was mentioned, as well as monuments of fine art: reliefs of the Ara Pacis and a portrait of the king from Panticapaeum. Reasons have been identified that prompted Aspurgus to issue coins with monograms, rather than a legend containing his name and title. In the course of the study, it was concluded that this ruler was one of the younger representatives of the Sapaeans and Zenonids house related to Julii. He accepted the title of a great king and agreed to be deified in order to legitimize his power on the Bosporus.

Keywords: Bosporus, 1st c. AD, Aspurgus, numismatics, epigraphy, sculpture

Information about author:

Michael Choref (Nizhnevartovsk, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. N. I. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod. Gagarin Ave., 23, Nizhni Novgorod, 603950, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]