Orophernes Nicephorus (in
Greek Oρoφέρνης Nικηφόρoς) was one of the two false sons whom
Antiochis imposed upon her husband,
Ariarathes IV, king of
Cappadocia. On the birth, however, of a real son, named Mithradates (afterwards
Ariarathes V), Orophernes, so that he might not set up pretensions to the throne, was sent away into
Ionia. When Ariarathes V refused to marry the sister of
Demetrius I Soter, king of
Syria, the king supported the claims of Orophernes to the crown of Cappadocia.
In
157 BC, when Ariarathes had been deposed and had fled to
Rome, Orophernes sent two ambassadors (Timotheus and
Diogenes) to the capital city to join the emissaries of Demetrius in opposing his brother. According to
Appian the
Romans decided that the two claimants should share the throne between them.
We are told, however, that Orophernes did not hold the kingdom long, and it is alleged that his reign was signalized by a departure from the more simple customs of his ancestors and by the introduction of systematic debauchery. To supply his lavish extravagance, he oppressed and pillaged his subjects, putting many to death and confiscating their property.
He deposited 400 talents with the citizens of
Priene as a resource in case of a reversal of fortune, but the Priennians later returned the money.
When Orophernes' business affairs were on the decline, he became alarmed that his soldiers might mutiny over unpaid wages so he plundered an ancient temple of
Zeus to pay them off....
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