Greek aristocrat from Asia Minor of the late Hellenistic period, known as the wife of Pythodoros of Tralles, a wealthy notable of the city of Tralles. She belonged to a family connected to the provincial elites of the late Roman Republic in the East.
Antonia(49 av. J.-C. — 100)
Antonia of Tralles
Rome antique
6 min read
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
- Lived in the city of Tralles, in Caria (Asia Minor), in the 1st century BC
- Wife of Pythodoros of Tralles, a wealthy notable of the region
- Belonged to the provincial Greek aristocracy under the growing influence of Rome
Works & Achievements
Her marriage united a great family connected to the Roman elite with one of the most considerable fortunes of Greek Asia, drawing the provincial notables into Roman politics.
Through her daughter Pythodoris, queen of Pontus, Antonia became the matriarch of a line of kings who were client rulers of Rome (Pontus, Armenia, Thrace).
According to Strabo, the family preserved and passed on intact a fortune of more than two thousand talents, despite the confiscations of the civil wars.
Raised in this great household, her daughter Pythodoris was praised by Strabo as a wise woman, capable of governing the affairs of a kingdom.
Anecdotes
Antonia shared her life with Pythodoros, one of the richest men in Greek Asia: the geographer Strabo valued his fortune at more than two thousand talents, a sum worthy of a king. When Julius Caesar confiscated this wealth because Pythodoros had been a friend of Pompey, the man defeated at Pharsalus, the family managed to buy it back and pass it on intact to its children.
Her daughter Pythodoris married Polemon I, king of Pontus, then ruled alone over this kingdom of Asia Minor after her husband's death. Through this daughter, Antonia became the ancestor of a true line of sovereigns: kings of Armenia and Thrace numbered among her descendants.
Historians believe that Antonia was a daughter of Mark Antony, the Roman triumvir and rival of Octavian. One clue guides them: her granddaughter bore the name Antonia Tryphaena, a way of keeping alive, from generation to generation, the memory of such a prestigious ancestor.
Antonia lived in Tralles, a wealthy Greek city in the Meander valley, famed for its luxury. Struck by an earthquake, the city was rebuilt thanks to the emperor Augustus, and for a time took the name Caesarea in his honor.
Like the women of the Greek aristocracy of her time, Antonia ran a vast oikos: slaves, stewards, weaving workshops, and the estate's accounts were all placed under her authority. Her social success was measured above all by her daughter's marriage, which brought the family into the circle of royal houses.
Primary Sources
Pythodorus, a native of Nysa, moved his residence to Tralles because of the renown of that city; he was, among a select few, a notable friend of Pompey. He acquired a royal fortune of more than two thousand talents, which, sold by the divine Caesar on account of that friendship, was bought back by him and left intact to his children. He is the father of Pythodoris, who is today queen of Pontus.
Pythodoris, a prudent woman capable of presiding over public affairs, was of Trallian origin. Having become the wife of Polemon, she reigned alongside him; after his death, she retained power over these peoples. Her daughter married Cotys, king of Thrace.
Key Places
Wealthy Greek city in the Meander valley (present-day Aydın, Turkey) where the family of Pythodoros lived; its renown and luxury attracted the leading citizens.
Pythodoros's city of origin, on the foothills of the Meander (near present-day Sultanhisar); cradle of the family before it settled in Tralles.
Former capital of the Kingdom of Pontus (present-day Amasya), heart of the realm governed by her daughter Pythodoris and of the dynasty descended from Antonia.
Great metropolis and de facto capital of the Roman province of Asia; administrative and religious center to which cities like Tralles were subordinate.
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Alliance avec la maison de Pythodoros
vers 40-35 av. J.-C.
Fondation d'une dynastie de souverains
à partir de vers 8 av. J.-C.
Conservation d'un patrimoine royal
milieu du Ier siècle av. J.-C.
Une reine élevée dans l'oikos
seconde moitié du Ier siècle av. J.-C.
