„Tigranu, the Crown Prince of Armenia“: Evidence from the Babylonian Astronomical Diaries

Abstract

Summary Two astronomical diaries, dating to the year 216 of the Seleucid Era (=95 bc), refer to the Crown Prince ti-ig-ra-nu, i.e. the Armenian king Tigran ‚the Great‘ (95-ca. 55 bc). A fresh reading of the texts allows us to resolve some passages and propose a historical commentary of the events related to Greater Armenia, from the death of Artawazd I to the beginning of Tigran’s reign after his staying in Lower Mesopotamia as a royal hostage.