Noumenios (
Ancient Greek: Νουμήνιος) was a
Seleucid general and
satrap of the Province of
Mesene (
Characene, capital
Antiochia in Susiana), who is said to have defeated the Persians sometime in the 3rd or 2nd century BCE.
Pliny describes his ruler as being "Antiochos", but it is unknown if this is referring to
Antiochos I,
Antiochos II or
Antiochos III, although the battle necessarily took place
before 190-189 BCE, date of the
Battle of Magnesia where Antiochos III was vanquished by the Romans.[2][3] Alternatively, these events may have taken place during the reign of
Antiochos IV.[1]
Pliny writes:
"Noumenios, who was made governor of Mesene by king Antiochos, while fighting against the Persians, defeated them at sea, and at low water, by land, with an army of cavalry, on the same day; in memory of which event he erected a twofold trophy on the same spot, in honour of Jupiter and Neptune"
This event is often used to describe some kind of adversary relationship between the
Frataraka rulers of Persis and the
Seleucid Empire during the 3rd or 2nd centuries BCE.[2] The rulers of Persis may have gained independence between 205 BCE, when Antiochos III visited
Antiochia in Persis in peace, and 190-189 BCE, the latest possible date for the battle led by Noumenios if the Battle of Magnesia is considered as a terminus ante quem.[3]