Abdalonymus
| Abdalonymus | |
|---|---|
 Purported depiction of Abdalonymous on the Alexander Sarcophagus. | |
| Reign | c. 332 BC– c. 329 BC |
| Predecessor | Abdashtart II |
| Successor | ? |
| Phoenician language | 𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤀𐤋𐤍𐤉𐤌 |
| Religion | Canaanite polytheism |
Abdalonymus[1](Greek:Ἀβδαλώνιμος;[2]Phoenician:𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤀𐤋𐤍𐤌[3],romanized:ʿAbd-ʾĪlōnīm,lit. 'Servant of the highest gods') was aPhoenicianbotanistandgardenerof royal descent, who becameKing of SidonunderAlexander the Greatin 332 BC.[4][5][6][7]
Life
[edit]AfterAlexander the Greathad subduedSidon,he gave permission toHephaestionto bestow its crown on whom he pleased. Hephaestion offered it to two brothers with whom he lodged, but they declined it, alleging that according to their laws it could only be worn by one of royal blood. Instead, they named Abdalonymus, who, notwithstanding his birth, had fallen into such poverty that he supported himself by the cultivation of a kitchen garden.
Hephaestion directed the brothers to carry the royal crown and robes to Abdalonymus. They obeyed and found him weeding in his garden. After causing him to wash, they invested him with the ensigns of royalty and conducted him to Alexander. This prince, who discerned in him an aspect not unworthy of his origin, turning to those around him, said "I wish to know how he bore his poverty." — "Would to heaven," replied Abdalonymus, "I may as well bear my prosperity! These hands have ministered to all my necessities, and as I possessed nothing, I wanted nothing." Alexander was so well pleased with this reply, that he confirmed the nomination of Hephaestion, and gave the new king the palace and private estate ofStratohis predecessor, and even augmented his dominions from the neighboring country.
The so-called "Alexander Sarcophagus",discovered near Sidon and now in theIstanbul Archaeological Museum,is now generally thought to be that of Abdalonymus, depicting him hunting alongside the eponymous general, though some scholars now believe the sarcophagus was that ofMazaeus,aPersiannoble and governor ofBabylon.
WhileQuintus Curtiusconfirms this story, as doesJustin,Diodoruscalls this personBallonimus,and says he was made king of Tyre, not Sidon.[8]Plutarchremoves the scene toPaphos,and names himAlonymus.Curtius likely adorned the story with fictitious circumstances.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Also spelledAbdalonymus,Abdolonimus,orAbdolonymus
- ^Gesenius, Wilhelm(1860).Gesenius's Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon.Translated by Samuel Prideux Tregelles. London: Samuel Bagster & Sons. p. dcxxxii.
- ^KAI292
- ^Curt. iv. 1; Just, xi. 10.
- ^Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
- ^Fox, Robin Lane,Alexander the Great,London (Allen Lane) 1973,ISBN0-86007-707-1
- ^Schmitz, Leonhard (1867),"Abdolonimus",in Smith, William (ed.),Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology,vol. 1, p. 2
- ^xvii. 46.
External links
[edit]- Livius.org: Abdalonymus
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Aikin, John(1815).General Biography.Ten volumes.- This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Smith, William,ed. (1870). "Abdolonimus".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.