Strabo, Geography, Hans Claude Hamilton (Translator), William Falconer (Translator), 12.2.11

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[11] When the Romans, after the defeat of Antiochus, first governed Asia, they made treaties of friendship and alliance both with the nations and with the kings. This honour was conferred upon the other kings separately and independently, but upon the king of Cappadocia in common with the nation. On the extinction of the royal race, the Romans admitted the independence of the Cappadocians according to the treaty of friendship and alliance which they had made with the nation. The deputies excused themselves from accepting the liberty which was offered to them, declaring that they were unable to bear it, and requested that a king might be appointed. The Romans were surprised that any people should be unwilling to enjoy liberty, but permitted¹ them to elect by suffrage any one they pleased from among themselves. They elected Ariobarzanes. The race became extinct in the third generation. Archelaus, who was not connected with the nation, was appointed king by Antony.

So much respecting the Greater Cappadocia.

With regard to Cilicia Tracheia, which was annexed to the Greater Cappadocia, it will be better to describe it when we give an account of the whole of Cilicia.

Geography. Strabo. Hans Claude Hamilton (Translator), William Falconer (Translator). London. 1854-1857.

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Current edition Perseus

Geography (English) (Strabo. The Geography of Strabo, Vols. 1-3. Hamilton, Hans Claude, translator; Falconer, William, translator. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1854-1857.)

Editions (1)

Γεωγραφικά Perseus (Strabo. Strabonis Geographica, Vols. 1-3. Meineke, August, editor. Leipzig: Teubner. 1877.) — 12.2.11 focus

[11] συνέβη δέ, ἡνίκα πρῶτον Ῥωμαῖοι τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ἀσίαν διῴκουν νικήσαντες Ἀντίοχον, καὶ φιλίας καὶ συμμαχίας ἐποιοῦντο πρός τε τὰ ἔθνη καὶ τοὺς βασιλέας, τοῖς μὲν ἄλλοις βασιλεῦσιν αὐτοῖς καθʼ ἑαυτοὺς δοθῆναι τὴν τιμὴν ταύτην, τῷ δὲ Καππάδοκι καὶ αὐτῷ δὲ τῷ ἔθνει κοινῇ. ἐκλιπόντος δὲ τοῦ βασιλικοῦ γένους οἱ μὲν Ῥωμαῖοι συνεχώρουν αὐτοῖς αὐτονομεῖσθαι κατὰ τὴν συγκειμένην φιλίαν τε καὶ συμμαχίαν πρὸς τὸ ἔθνος, οἱ δὲ πρεσβευσάμενοι τὴν μὲν ἐλευθερίαν παρῃτοῦντο (οὐ γὰρ δύνασθαι φέρειν αὐτὴν ἔφασαν), βασιλέα δʼ ἠξίουν αὐτοῖς ἀποδειχθῆναι. οἱ δὲ θαυμάσαντες εἴ τινες οὕτως εἶεν ἀπειρηκότες πρὸς τὴν ἐλευθερίαν ἐπέτρεψαν δʼ οὖν αὐτοῖς ἐξ ἑαυτῶν ἑλέσθαι κατὰ χειροτονίαν ὃν ἂν βούλωνται· καὶ εἵλοντο Ἀριοβαρζάνην· εἰς τριγονίαν δὲ προελθόντος τοῦ γένους ἐξέλιπε, κατεστάθη δʼ ὁ Ἀρχέλαος οὐδὲν προσήκων αὐτοῖς Ἀντωνίου καταστήσαντος. ταῦτα καὶ περὶ τῆς μεγάλης Καππαδοκίας· περὶ δὲ τῆς τραχείας Κιλικίας τῆς προστεθείσης αὐτῇ βέλτιόν ἐστιν ἐν τῷ περὶ τῆς ὅλης Κιλικίας λόγῳ διελθεῖν.

Translations (1)

Geography (Books 6-14) Perseus (Strabo. The Geography of Strabo, Vols. 3-6. Jones, Horace Leonard, translator. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd., 1924-1929 (printing).) — 12.2.11 focus

[11] It came to pass, as soon as the Romans, after conquering Antiochus, began to administer the affairs of Asia and were forming friendships and alliances both with the tribes and with the kings, that in all other cases they gave this honor to the kings individually, but gave it to the king of Cappadocia and the tribe jointly. And when the royal family died out, the Romans, in accordance with their compact of friendship and alliance with the tribe, conceded to them the right to live under their own laws; but those who came on the embassy not only begged off from the freedom (for they said that they were unable to bear it), but requested that a king be appointed for them. The Romans, amazed that any people should be so tired of freedom,¹—at any rate, they permitted them to choose by vote from their own number whomever they wished. And they chose Ariobarzanes; but in the course of the third generation his family died out; and Archeläus was appointed king, though not related to the people, being appointed by Antony. So much for Greater Cappadocia. As for Cilicia Tracheia, which was added to Greater Cappadocia, it is better for me to describe it in my account of the whole of Cilicia.²

Notes on the current edition

Geography

1. Du Theil quotes Justin, 38, c. 2, where it is stated that Ariobarzanes was appointed king by the Romans. Probably the election was confirmed by the Senate.

Strabo Geography 12.2.11

Hans Claude Hamilton (Translator), William Falconer (Translator)

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