Vardanes II

Vardanes II
Tetradrachm of Vardanes II, Seleucia mint
King of the Parthian Empire
Reign55 – 58
PredecessorVologases I
SuccessorVologases I
Diedc. 58
DynastyArsacid dynasty
FatherVologases I or Vardanes I
ReligionZoroastrianism

Vardanes II was the son of Vologases I or Vardanes I and briefly ruler of parts of the Parthian Empire. In ancient records he only appears in Tacitus. Otherwise he is only known from coins that are dated between 55 and 58 CE. He rebelled against Vologases I at Seleucia from about 55 to 58 CE and must have occupied Ecbatana, since he issued coins from the mint there, bearing the likeness of a young beardless king wearing a diadem with five pendants. The lack of facial lesions on his coins sets him apart from other Parthian rulers, many of whom were depicted with nodules resembling trichoepithelioma. Other than that nothing more about him is known.