ARATHES ă rā’ thez (̓Αριαράθης; ̓Αράθης; ASV form of RSV, KJV ARIARATHES). King of Cappadocia (163-130 b.c.), he was driven from his throne by the Syrian king, Demetrius Soter, because, in conformity with the wishes of his ally, Rome, he declined a proposal to marry the sister of the Syrian king. In 158 b.c. he fled to Rome, but later was restored to the throne. In 139 b.c. the Romans wrote letters to him and other eastern kings in favor of the Jews (1 Macc 15:22). This was the result of an embassy sent to Rome by Simon Maccabeus.