VONONES (on coins ONONES)  , the name of two Parthian kings . (r) VONONES I., eldest son of Phraates IV . After the assassination of Orodes II . (c . A.D . 7), the Parthians applied to Augustus for a new king from the house of Arsaces . Augustus sent them Vonones (Hon . Ana . 5, 9; Tac . Ann. ii. r f.; Joseph . Ant. xviii . 2, 4), who was living as a hostage in Rome .

But Vonones could not maintain himself; he had been educated as a

Roman, and was despised as a slave of the Romans . Another member of the Arsacid house, Artabanus IL, who was living among the Dahan nomads, was invited to the throne, and defeated and expelled Vonones . The coins of Vonones (who always uses his proper name) date from A.D . 8-12, those of Artabanus II. begin in A.D . 10 . Vonones fled into Armenia and became king here . But Artabanus demanded his deposition, and as Augustus did not wish to begin a war with the Parthians he removed Vonones into Syria, where he was kept in custody (Tac . Ann. ii . 4) . When he tried to escape, A.D . 19, he was killed by his guards (Tac . Ann. ii .

58, 68) . (2) VONONES II.,

governor of Media, was raised to the throne after the death of Gotarzes in A.D . 51 (perhaps he was his brother, cf . Joseph . Ant. xx . 3, 4) . But he died after a few months, and was succeeded by his son Vologaeses I . (Tac . Ann. xii . 14) . (ED .