Musa of Parthia

Their reign was short-lived; they were forced to flee to Rome after being deposed by the Parthian nobility, who crowned Orodes III as king.

Additional women, Rinnu, Ifra Hormizd and Denag, ruled only as regents of their sons and not as full monarchs in their own name.

[3] Emma Strugnell (2008) has suggested that Augustus may have sent Musa in an attempt to obtain information or influence the Parthian king to the advantage of the Romans.

[9][10] Furthermore, the title of basilissa ("queen") was given to her by Phraates V, which was not necessarily only used by the wife of the king in the Hellenistic era, but also other royal women.

[13] The modern historian Joan M. Bigwood calls the report of Josephus "seriously misleading", and points out its striking similarities to the story of the Assyrian queen Semiramis, deducing that his account of Musa was most likely derived from a common folk tale.

"[16] After a short rule, the Parthian nobility, angered by Phraates V's recent acknowledgement of Roman suzerainty in Armenia and his mother's Italian slave descent, deposed them both from the throne and installed a certain Orodes III as king.

Obverse and reverse sides of a coin of Phraates IV, with the latter portraying Musa
Coin of Phraates V , showing his mother, Musa, on the reverse. Minted at Seleucia
Greek marble sculpture found in Susa, at first thought to be that of Musa. Currently stored in the National Museum of Iran.
A Greek bust found in Susa , which was initially thought be that of Musa, now in the National Museum of Iran