Chiomara

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Chiomara was one in the first half of the 2nd century BC. Chr. Living Galatia princess and wife of Ortiagon , a leader of the tribe of tolistobogii .

In the ancient sources - especially Titus Livius and Plutarch - Chiomara is described as an example of a woman who is as beautiful as she is morally virtuous. She got 189 BC In the course of the successful but brutal raid of the consul Gnaeus Manlius Vulso through Asia Minor in Roman captivity. When the Romans had moved into quarters in Ankyra (now Ankara ), a centurion entrusted with guarding Chiomara's prisoners first made improper proposals and, after their refusal, took advantage of their helpless position to rape them. He then wanted them to return to their tribe in exchange for a ransom. Chiomara agreed, and one of her captured slaves was allowed to leave the Roman camp to deliver the centurion's offer. A meeting point for the secret handover was arranged, to which only two of the princess' tribesmen should come. When the centurion appeared with his prisoner at the agreed place and counted the gold that had been handed over to him, Chiomara indicated to her compatriots who had brought the gold with them either by nodding their head - according to Plutarch - or by sending an order in their native language - according to Livius beheading Roman soldiers. She brought the man's head to her husband Ortiagon, who had escaped against the Romans after the defeat of the Tolistobogians on Mount Olympos. She told him what had happened and said that even more beautiful than loyalty is the certainty that there is only one of those men alive who has been with her. According to Livy, she remained morally pure until her death.

Both Livy and Plutarch base their portrayal of the fate of Chiomara on the Greek historian Polybius , who is said to have talked to the Galatian princess some time after her deed in Sardis and who is said to have been impressed by her sagacity and dexterity.

literature

  • Chiomara . In: Bernhard Kytzler : Women of antiquity. 1997, pp. 47-48.
  • Serge Lancel: Hannibal. Paris 1996, German Düsseldorf and Zurich 1998, p. 343.

Remarks

  1. ↑ Polybios 21, 38, 1–7 in Plutarch , On the Virtues of Women ( De mulierum virtutibus ) 22, Moralia 258 de; Livy 38, 24, 2-11; Valerius Maximus 6, 1 ext. 2; Florus 1, 27, 6; De viris illustribus 55, 2.
personal data
SURNAME Chiomara
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Wife of the Tolistobogier leader Ortiagon
DATE OF BIRTH 3rd century BC BC or 2nd century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 2nd century BC Chr.