A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Helena, of Monobasus
HELENA,
Wife and sister of Monobasus, King of Adiabena, and mother of Irates, the successor of Monobasus, flourished about the year 50. Though Irates was one of the younger sons of the king, yet, being his favourite, he left the crown to him at his death. In order to secure the throne to him, the principal officers of the state proposed to put those of his brothers to death who were inimical to him; but Helen would not consent to this. Helen and Irates were both converts to the Jewish faith. When Helen saw that her son was in peaceable possession of the throne, she went to Jerusalem to worship and sacrifice there. When she arrived in that city, there was a great famine prevailing there, which she immediately exerted herself effectually to relieve, by sending to different places for provisions, and distributing them among the poor. After the death of Irates, Helen returned to Adiabena, where she found that her son Monobasus had succeeded to the throne; but she did not long survive her favourite son Irates.