The Kingdom of Pontus on the Black Sea in today’s Turkey is a little-known corner of the ancient world although the city of Sinope was founded by Greek colonists. It became part of the Persian Empire in the early 4th century BC but is not mentioned as being included in Alexander’s realm.
One of the main players in the history of Pontus is King Pharnaces I who is said to be of mixed Greek and Macedonian origin and who captured Sinope in 183 BC that became his capital. Much later, in 47 BC Julius Cesar established a Roman colony there and renamed it Colonia Julia Felix.
Pharnaces married Nysa, a Seleucid Princess either in 172 or 171 BC, through a diplomatic arrangement that involved Demetrius I Soter, who was King of Seleucia at the time. The couple established good relations with Athens and the island of Delos and several honorific statues and inscriptions have survived to testify of their dedication. Athens offered them a golden crown and bronze statues of Pharnaces and Nysa were set up in Delos. They had two children, a son who later ruled the country as Mithridates V of Pontus, and a daughter Nysa, who married King Ariarathes V of Cappadocia.
It is unclear when King Pharnaces I died and it could be any time between 160 and 154 BC, the date when his brother Mithridates IV of Pontus is first mentioned as king.
Well, this is a rather long introduction to the magnificent shield shown above which is part of the collection of the Getty Museum in Malibu. The bronze shield definitely has a Macedonian look because of the central star that symbolizes the sun and kingship. The inscription reveals that it was made in Pontus for King Pharnaces I, which explains the mixed Greek and Macedonian appearance.
This is obviously one of the great examples of ancient craftsmanship.