A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

1. SAUROMATES I. was contemporary with Augustus and Tiberius : and assumed, in compliment to the latter emperor, the names of Tiberius Julius, which appear on some of his coins. The date on the one annexed, incorrectly copied in the engraving, is ΘΟͅΣ, or 299, which corresponds with A. D. 3: others bear dates as late as the year 310 of the Bosporan era, or A. D. 14. None of those with the titles of Ti. Julius have any dates, and Mionnet considers (apparently without sufficient reason) that these belong to a second king of the name of Sauromates.

According to Eckhel (Ib. p. 375), Pepaepiris was the wife of this Sauromates [PEPAEPIRIS]; but later numismatists consider her as the queen of Mithridates king of Bosporus. It appears probable, also, that the true form of her name is Gepaepiris. (Dumersan, Médailles d'Allier, pp. 64, 66; Mionnet. Suppl. iv. pp. 482, 496.)