Orodes is the Latinized form of a male given name of Middle Iranian origin popularized by Parthians. In Greek it is recorded as Orōdēs (), Hērōdēs (), Hurōdēs (, in Latin: ), and once as Ouorōdēs (). It is recorded in Shapur I's trilingual inscription at the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht as Greek (§67) Ouorōd (), Middle Persian (§35) wyrwd ( Wērōy, Wīroy, Wirōy) and Parthian (§28) wrwd ( Wērōd, Urūd). The older form is probably Wērōd, supposedly developed into a regional Werōd, and later Worōd. The Middle Persian is also recorded with the spelling and . It is recorded in New Persian as Wērō (, "Viru"), name of a character in Vis o Ramin, a romance of Parthian origin.
The name is recorded as wrwd in Syriac and Aramaic texts from Egypt (spelled wrd instead), Elymais, Palmyra, Hatra, Dura-Europos, and possibly Assur. The Parthian name is also attested in Late Babylonian (mú-ru-da-a).
The etymology of the word is disputed.
People named Orodes include:
Kings of Parthia: Orodes I of Parthia (died 75 BC) Orodes II of Parthia (died 37 BC) Orodes III of Parthia (died 6 AD)
Kings of Elymais: Orodes I of Elymais, reigned c. 50-100 AD? Orodes II of Elymais, son and successor of Orodes I Orodes III () Orodes IV of Elymais, reigned beginning sometime between 165-170 AD? Orodes V ()
Others: Orodes of Armenia, Roman client king of Armenia in 35 AD and from 37 until 42
See also Septimius Worod, a Palmyrene official Worod, a king of the Kingdom of Hatra Herod (disambiguation)
References