In 47 BC, Lycomedes was probably about 50 years old when he was named by Roman dictator, Gaius
Julius Caesar, the priest of the
goddess Bellona in the temple-state of
Comana, and sovereign, therefore, of the surrounding country. The predecessor of Lycomedes was
Archelaus, the grandson of the
Pontic general Archelaus.
Strabo reports that with Roman client King
Polemon I of Pontus, Lycomedes besieged a fortress held by Arsaces, a rebel chief who was guarding the sons of King
Pharnaces II of Pontus, until Arsaces surrendered. Later Lycomedes was a supporter of Roman
triumvir Mark Antony, who at some point enlarged the territory of Lycomedes' kingdom. Due to Lycomedes’ partisanship with Mark Antony, he was deposed by Octavian after the
Battle of Actium. He was succeeded as priest and ruler, briefly, by the brigand-king
Cleon of Gordiucome, and more permanently by
Dyteutus. Lycomedes had married
a Pontian princess called
Orsabaris, the youngest daughter of King
Mithridates VI of Pontus, who bore Lycomedes a daughter named
Orodaltis. ==See also==