Tiberius Julius Ininthimeus

Tiberius Julius Ininthimeus Philocaesar Philoromaios Eusebes, also known as Ininthimaeus, Ininthimeus or Inithimeus (Greek: Τιβέριος Ἰούλιος Iνινθιμηος Φιλόκαισαρ Φιλορώμαίος Eυσεbής, Philocaesar Philoromaios Eusebes, means lover of Caesar, lover of Rome who is the Pious one, flourished 3rd century – died 240) was a prince and Roman Client King of the Bosporan Kingdom.

Ininthimeus was the youngest born son to the Bosporan King Cotys III and his mother was an unnamed Sarmatian noble woman. He was of Greek, Iranian and Roman ancestry. His two eldest brothers were princes Sauromates III and Rhescuporis IV. Ininthimeus most probably inherited his name from his maternal ancestry.

In 235, Ininthimeus succeeded his second brother Rhescuporis IV who died and co-ruled with his father Cotys III. Later that year Cotys III died and Ininthimeus succeeded his father. He ruled as Bosporan King from 235 until his death in 240.

His royal title on coins is in Greek: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΙΝΙΝΘΙΜΗΥΟΥ or of King Ininthimeus. Ininthimeus was a contemporary to the rule of the Roman Emperors Alexander Severus, Maximinus Thrax and the period Year of the Six Emperors. During his co-rule with his father, the last Bosporan gold coins were minted. After the death of Cotys III, gold coinage disappeared and was replaced with bronze or silver coins.

According to surviving coinage, Ininthimeus appeared to have been a religious person who was involved in the worship of the Goddess Aphrodite and her cult. He also represents himself on coins as the goddess Astarte. During the Ininthimeus’ reign, the intrusion of the Goths created great pressure on the Bosporan Kingdom. Ininthimeus married an unnamed woman, and from this marriage had a son called Rhescuporis V. Ininthimeus died in 240 and was succeeded by Rhescuporis V.