Editing Mithridates I of Parthia (section)

== Coinage and Imperial ideology ==
[[Image:Coin of Mithridates I of Parthia wearing a soft cap.jpg|thumb|left|Early coin of Mithridates I. The reverse shows a seated archer carrying a bow, whilst the obverse shows a portrait of Mithridates I wearing a soft cap (''[[bashlyk]]'')]]
Since the early 2nd century BC, the Arsacids had begun adding obvious signals in their dynastic ideology, which emphasized their association with the heritage of the ancient [[Achaemenid Empire]]. Examples of these signs included a fictitious claim that the first Arsacid king, [[Arsaces I of Parthia|Arsaces I]] ({{reign|247|217|era=BC}}) was a descendant of the Achaemenid [[King of Kings]], [[Artaxerxes II of Persia|Artaxerxes II]] ({{reign|404|358|era=BC}}).{{sfn|Dąbrowa|2012|p=179}} Achaemenid titles were also assumed by the Arsacids; Mithridates I was the first Arsacid ruler who adopted the former Achaemenid title of "King of Kings". Though Mithridates I was the first to readopt the title, it was not commonly used among Parthian rulers until the reign of his nephew and namesake [[Mithridates II of Parthia|Mithridates II]], from c. 109/8 BC onwards.{{sfn|Dąbrowa|2012|p=179}}{{sfn|Schippmann|1986|pp=525–536}} 
[[Image:MithridatesIParthiaCoinHistoryofIran.jpg|thumb|Mithridates I's portrait on the obverse of a [[tetradrachm]], showing him wearing a beard and a royal [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic]] [[diadem]] on his head. The reverse shows [[Heracles]]-[[Verethragna]], holding a club in his left hand and a cup in his right hand]]
The Arsacid monarchs preceding Mithridates I are depicted on the obverse of their coins with a soft cap, known as the ''[[bashlyk]]'', which had also been worn by Achaemenid [[satrap]]s.{{sfn|Dąbrowa|2012|p=179}} On the reverse, there is a seated archer, dressed in an Iranian riding costume.{{sfn|Sinisi|2012|p=280}}{{sfn|Curtis|2012|p=68}} The earliest coins of Mithridates I show him wearing the soft cap as well, however coins from the later part of his reign show him for the first time wearing the royal Hellenistic [[diadem]].{{sfn|Brosius|2006|pp=101–102}}{{sfn|Curtis|2007|p=9}} He thus embraces the image of a Hellenistic monarch, yet chooses to appear bearded in the traditional Iranian custom.{{sfn|Curtis|2007|p=9}} Mithridates I also titled himself ''[[Philhellenism|Philhellene]]'' ("friend of the Greeks") on his coins, which was a political act done in order to establish friendly relations with his newly conquered Greek subjects and cooperate with its elite.{{sfn|Dąbrowa|2012|p=170}}{{sfn|Dąbrowa|2013|p=54}} On the reverse of his new coins, the Greek [[divine hero]] [[Heracles]] is depicted, holding a club in his left hand and a cup in his right hand.{{sfn|Curtis|2012|p=69}} In the Parthian era, Iranians used Hellenistic iconography to portray their divine figures, thus Heracles was seen as a representation of the [[Avesta]]n [[Verethragna]].{{sfn|Curtis|2012|pp=69, 76–77}}

The other titles that Mithridates I used in his coinage was "of Arsaces", which was later changed into "of King Arsaces", and eventually, "of the Great King Arsaces."{{sfn|Curtis|2007|p=9}} The name of the first Arsacid ruler Arsaces I had become a royal honorific among the Arsacid monarchs out of admiration for his achievements.{{sfn|Dąbrowa|2012|p=169}}{{sfn|Kia|2016|p=23}} Another title used in Mithridates' coinage was "whose father is a god", which was also later used by his son, Phraates II.{{sfn|Curtis|2007|p=9}}