Kherei Explained

Kherei
Allegiance:	Achaemenid Empire
Serviceyears:	fl. 410 – 390 BC
Rank:	Dynast of Lycia

Kherei (circa 433-410 BC, or circa 410-390 BC) was dynast of Lycia, ruler of the area of Xanthos, at a time when this part of Anatolia was subject to the Persian, or Achaemenid, Empire.^[1]

Present-day knowledge of Lycia in the period of classical antiquity comes mostly from archaeology, in which this region is unusually rich.^[2] He may have been the dynast to whom was dedicated the Xanthian Obelisk, where he is mentioned in multiple places, although this could more probably be his predecessor Kheriga (Xeriga, Gergis in Greek).^[3] Kherei may have been Kheriga's brother, and succeeded him.

Coinage

Kherei was among last the Lycian rulers to issue coinage. After 360 BC, the region of Lycia was taken over by the Carian dynast Mausolus.^[4]

The portrait on the coins of Kherei show the dynast wearing the Achaemenid satrapal headdress.^[5]

Further reading

• Lotz . Helmut . Xerei, der Errichter des Inschriftenpfeilers von Xanthos . Kadmos . 2017 . 56 . 1–2 . 139–172 . 10.1515/kadmos-2017-0007 . 165480090 . German.

Notes and References

1. Book: Anderson . John Kinloch . Military Theory and Practice in the Age of Xenophon . 1970 . University of California Press . 9780520015647 . 33 . en.
2. D. T. Potts, A Companion to the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (2012), p. 912: "...c. 380–370 BC, two western Lycian dynasts named Arttumpara and Mithrapata claimed power simultaneously."
3. Book: Keen . Antony G. . Dynastic Lycia: A Political of History of the Lycians and Their Relations with Foreign Powers : C. 545-362 B.C. . 1998 . BRILL . 9004109560 . 130 . en.
4. Book: CNG: DYNASTS of LYCIA. Mithrapata. Circa 390-370 BC. AR Stater (23mm, 9.73 g, 5h). .
5. Book: CNG: DYNASTS of LYCIA. Mithrapata. Circa 390-370 BC. AR Stater (23mm, 9.73 g, 5h). .