Lysanias

Lysanias (c. 80 BC ();? † ca 36 BC) was tetrarch of dominion on the western slopes of Mount Hermon, inter alia, to the the cities of Chalcis and Abila Lysaniou ( " Abila of Lysanias " ) included. Through the Jewish historian Josephus and coin finds his Government Will do is attested for the period 40-36 BC The father of Lysanias was Ptolemy, son of Mennaios, the ruler of the principality of Chalcis in Ituraea.

Ruler of Chalcis and Abila

Despite the involvement of the dynasty of the Mennaiden, Lysanias belonged to a the interests of Rome not fully compliant ( Parthians and pro-Jewish ) Politics of the Roman triumvir Mark Antony initially confirmed the sovereign rights of the son of Ptolemy, Lysanias, whom he appointed with royal titles ruler appointed by Ituraea.

Later, however, after Antonius had a relationship with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, these accused, according to Josephus the Lysanias of wanting to put the Parthians in turmoil and let BC murder so she could acquire his land him in the year 36. This tradition, however, is probably less accurate than the report of the historian Dio Cassius that Antony even the death warrant for Lysanias was, after he had been accused of Cleopatra, the Parthian king's son Pacorus († 38 BC ) against Asia Minor during its offensive and Syria supports to have. Anyway, the field of Lysanias of Antonius was transferred to Cleopatra. The Egyptian queen gave her apportioned share of Ituraea to the Tetrarch and priests Zenodorus on lease, which may also belonged to the ruling family ituräischen.

Biblical Relevance

In addition, the name of Lysanias immersed in the New Testament as the one of the four rulers of the Herodian tetrarchy to 28 to 37 AD on. However, the existence of a Lysanias the 1st century AD is not safe in use. Lysanias (Luke 3.1 EU) is in the Gospel of Luke mentions. They say he was tetrarch of Abilene region, as John the Baptist appeared for the first time. His reign would fall accordingly in the period around the year 28/29 AD

Except Biblical mention

The ancient Jewish historian Flavius ​​Josephus mentions the city Abila and its surroundings "at Mount Lebanon " as the area that the descendants of Herod the Great's rightful territories is also assured by the Roman Emperor Claudius to the Jewish king Agrippa I.. Agrippa I had received the area in the year 37 AD, under Caligula. The city of Abila of Lysanias is to be distinguished from the city of Abila in the Decapolis.