From Bdyḥbl to Brochubelus: Commemorating a Son of Mazday on Samarian Coins?

By David Hendin ….. Coins tell stories, but the stories are not always clear, especially when interpreted nearly 2,500 years later.

Five Samarian coin types (MQ 13–17) have been reattributed by Dr. Mati Johananoff of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures in his article “From Bdyḥbl to Brochubelus: Commemorating a Son of Mazday on Samarian Coins?” (Swiss Numismatic Review 101, 2023: 7–22). These coins, traditionally linked to the name BDYḤBL, are now believed to reference Brochubelus, the son of Achaemenid official Mazaeus (Mazday), who was Satrap of Cilicia (c. 361–328 BCE).

The standard interpretation of the Aramaic name on these coins has been revised by Johananoff, who presents a compelling case for重新归因. The coins in question, which were previously linked to the enigmatic name BDYḤBL, now bear the inscription BRWḤBL, leading Johananoff to identify the figure mentioned on the coins as Brochubelus.

This reattribution is significant because it directly connects these coins to a recognizable historical figure, a link that was overlooked by previous researchers. The only known reference to Brochubelus appears in the writings of Roman historian Quintus Curtius Rufus, who mentions him briefly as “Brochubelus, son of Mazday, [who was] a former praetor in Syria.”

Numismatic evidence strongly supports this reattribution. Coins inscribed with BRWḤBL are among the most frequently found types in the Nablus 1968 Hoard, with 20 specimens recorded. Johananoff argues that this makes BRWḤBL, or Brochubelus, one of the most prominent names in the hoard, suggesting that Brochubelus was a significant figure during the period these coins were minted. He also notes that the presence of both Mazday and Brochubelus in the hoard strengthens the case that these coins belong to the same chronological period—the final two decades of the Persian era.

Furthermore, the iconography on these coins closely mirrors that of coins struck with Mazday’s name in Cilicia (Photo 7) and Sidon, as well as Samaria (Photo 8). Both sets of coins feature a seated Achaemenid king holding a flower and a scepter, along with a chariot scene. Johananoff concludes that the stylistic similarities support the hypothesis that Mazday and Brochubelus belong to the same period, and that Brochubelus, like his father, likely held a significant administrative position, which justified the appearance of his name on coinage.

Since the historical record for Brochubelus relies on a single reference by Curtius Rufus, Johananoff suggests that studying Mazday’s role as a well-documented satrap could shed light on Brochubelus’s likely responsibilities. Under Persian rule, Mazday governed extensive territories, including Cilicia and Transeuphratia. Coins minted under his authority in these regions offer insight into his administrative influence.

Johananoff proposes that Brochubelus, as Mazday’s son, may have been entrusted with specific responsibilities in Syria, potentially serving under his father. The striking of coins bearing Brochubelus’s name could indicate his role in local governance or delegated authority within Samaria, a territory under his father’s jurisdiction.

The reattribution of five Samarian coin types inscribed with BRWḤBL to Brochubelus (as opposed to the previous reading BDYḤBL) marks a significant advancement in Samarian numismatics. Johananoff’s identification of this connection, overlooked by earlier researchers, highlights the importance of Brochubelus in Samaria at the end of the Achaemenid period. The 20 coins featuring Brochubelus found in the Nablus Hoard attest to his local importance in Samaria during a time when responsibilities for the region shifted toward Cilicia.

Johananoff concludes that the coins minted in Brochubelus’s name align with historical sources and the established understanding of Mazday’s influence in the region.

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