Tiridates at The Palace of Versailles, France

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This marble sculpture by Antoine André (who died before 1699) is called 'Prisonnier Barbare' (eng. Barbarian Prisoner), but is also known as 'Tridates'. Tiridates I was King of Armenia beginning in 53 AD and the founder of the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia, the Armenian line (branch) of the Arsacid Dynasty of Parthia. The dates of his birth and death are unknown facts. His early reign was marked by a brief interruption towards the end of the year 54 AD, followed by a much longer one from 58 to 63 AD, showing the challenges he faced as king. In an agreement to resolve the Roman-Parthian conflict in and over Armenia, Tiridates I (one of the brothers of Vologases I of Parthia) was crowned king of Armenia by the Roman emperor Nero in 66 AD; this marked a significant shift in power dynamics between the two empires. In return for this coronation, Tiridates I agreed to make Armenia a client kingdom, with his appointment as king requiring approval from the Romans. Even though this arrangement seemed favorable, various contemporary Roman sources thought that Nero had de facto ceded Armenia to the Parthian Empire, highlighting the complexities of international relations during this time period. In addition to being a king, Tiridates I was also a Zoroastrian priest and was accompanied by other magi on his journey to Rome in 66 AD, demonstrating his commitment to his faith. In the early 20th century, Franz Cumont speculated that Tiridates was instrumental in the development of Mithraism, which he believed was simply Romanized Zoroastrianism; however, this theory has since been questioned by scholars. Tiridates I is one of the principal characters in George Frideric Handel's opera Radamisto and Reinhard Keiser's opera Octavia, showcasing his enduring influence on art and culture. Louis XIV of France ordered this statue of Tiridates I to be placed in the garden of the Palace of Versailles, solidifying its place in history. During his reign, he started reforming the administrative structure of the kingdom, a reform which was continued by his successors, bringing many Iranian customs and offices into the kingdom. This marble sculpture is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open source community effort; if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help preserve our cultural heritage.