By Water & Blood

The Tyrian Annals: from Dius and Menander

n Upon the death of Abibalus his son Hiromus [Hiram] succeeded to the kingdom. He raised the eastern parts of the city, and enlarged it ; and joined to it the temple of Jupiter Olympius,1 which stood before upon an island, by filling up the intermediate space : and he adorned that temple with donations of gold : and he went up into Libanus [Lebanon], to cut timber for the construction of the temples. And it is said that Solomon, king of Jerusalem, sent enigmas to Hiromus [Hiram], and desired others in return, with a proposal that whichsoever of the two

1 Or Melkarth, i.e., King of the City, the Baal of Tyre. To this deity a very ancient and richly adorned temple was erected, which was renowned throughout the world. Annual gifts were sent thither from Carthage and the most distant Phoenician colonies. During my residence at Safed, in Galilee, in 1855, a great treasure of Tyrian coins was discovered, some of the finest of which I purchased. On one side was seen, beautifully executed, the head of the Tyrian Baal ; on the other an eagle (the symbol of the Syro-Macedonian dynasty, which at that time governed Tyre), with the inscription in Greek, which being translated reads, " Of Tyre a holy city and asylum."

was unable to solve them, should forfeit money to the other. Hiromus [Hiram], agreed to the proposal, but was unable to solve the enigmas, and paid a large sum as a forfeit. And it is said that one Abdemonus, a Tyrian, solved the enigmas, and proposed others which Solomon was not able to unriddle, for which he repaid the fine to Hiromus [Hiram]." — yoseph. contr. Ap. lib. i. c. 17. — Syncel. Chron. 182.

"After the death of Abibalus, Hiromus [Hiram] his son succeeded him in his kingdom, and reigned thirty-four years, having lived fifty-three. He laid out that part of the city which is called Eurychoron '} and consecrated the golden column which is in the temple of Jupiter.2 And he went up into the forest

1 Literally, the broad dance. It designates, no doubt, an open space, as a square or promenade.

2 Jupiter Belus, or Olympius ; i.e., the Tyrian Baal. By some writers he is called the Tyrian Hercules. From this deity the two mountains on the Strait of Gibraltar are called the Pillars of Hercules — Abyla on the one side and Calpe on the other — for, so far the Tyrian Hercules (or Baal) is said to have carried his conquests; in other words, so far did Phoenician commerce, at a very early period, extend.

on the mountain called Libanus [Lebanon], to fell cedars for the roofs of the temples : and having demolished the ancient temples, he rebuilt them, and consecrated the fanes [or temples] of Hercules [i.e., Baal] and Astarte : he constructed that of Hercules first, in the month Peritius [i.e., February] ; then that of Astarte, when he had overcome the Tityans who had refused to pay their tribute : and when he had reduced them he returned. In his time was a certain young man named Abdemonus, who used to solve the problems which were propounded to him by Solomon, king of Jerusalem." — From yosephzcs contra Apion, lib. i. cap. 18 ; and yosephus Antiq. J ud. lib. viii. cap. 5.

" Upon the death of Hiromus [Hiram], Baleazarus his son, succeeded to the kingdom ; he lived fortythree years, and reigned seven. After him, Abdastratus [Abd-Astarte], his son, reigned nine years, having lived twenty-nine. Against him the four sons of his nurse conspired and slew him. Of these, the eldest reigned twelve years. After them Astartus, the son of Delaeastartus, reigned twelve years, having lived fifty-four. After him his brother Aserumus, reigned nine years, having lived fifty-four. He was slain by his brother Pheles, who governed the king-

dom eight months, having lived fifty years. He was murdered by a priest of Astarte, Ithobalus [Ethbaal], who reigned thirty-two years, having lived sixtyeight. He was succeeded by his son, Badezorus, who reigned six years, having lived forty-five. His successor was Matgenus, his son, who reigned nine years, having lived thirty-two. He was succeeded by Phygmalion, who reigned forty-seven years, having lived fifty-six. In the seventh year of his reign, his sister [Dido), fled from him, and founded the city of Carthage in Libya (b.c. 878). — From Josephus contra Aftion, lib. i. cap. 18,

Of the Invasion of Salmanasar (or Shalmaneser.)

" Elul^us1 reigned thirty-six years : and he fitted out a fleet against the Kittaeans (Chittim or Cypriots) who had revolted, and reduced, them to obedience. But Salmanasar, the king of the Assyrians^ sent them assistance, and overran Phoenicia : and when he had made peace with the Phoenicians he returned with all

1 Called LULIA, in the cuneiform inscription of Sennacherib (Taylor cylinder line 35). This interesting historical document has been translated into English, and will be found at p. 35 of vol. i. of " Records of the Past." Norris,

his forces. And Sidon, and Ake,1 and Palsetyrus,2 and many other cities revolted from the Tyrians, and put themselves under the protection of the king of Assyria. But as the Tyrians still refused to submit, the king made another expedition against them : and the Phoenicians furnished him with sixty ships and eighty gallies : and the Tyrians attacked him with twelve ships, and dispersed the hostile fleet, and took prisoners to the amount of five hundred men : upon which account the Tyrians were held in great respect. But the king of Assyria stationed guards upon the river and at the aqueducts, to prevent the Tyrians from drawing water : and this continued five years, during all which time they were obliged to drink from wells which they dug." — Joseph, Antiq. Jud. lib. ix. c. 14.

in his Assyrian Dictionary {sub voce LULI, p. 670), says the name Luliah occurs also in the Bellino cylinder, i. 18, and at line 1 3 of the Nebbi-Yunas inscription which records the campaigns of Esarhaddon. I do not find the name in either. In the Bellino no mention of Sidon at all, while in the Nebbi-Yunas the King is called Abdi-Milkutti. Josephus (Antiq. ix. 14) calls him Elulaeus, King of Tyre.

1 Acco, now St. Jean dAcre : the Ptolemais of the New Testament. It occurs in Judges i. 31 ; Micah i. 10 (Heb. text), and 1 Maccab. v. 22.

Of the Kings and Judges from Nebuchadnezzar

to Cyrus. In the reign of Ithobalus [or, Ethbaal *], Nabuchodonosorus [Nebuchadnezzar] beseiged Tyre for thirteen years.2 After him reigned Baal ten years. After him Judges [or Suffetes], were appointed who judged the people : Ecnibalus, the son of Balsachus, two months : Chelbes, the son of Abdaeus, ten months : Abbarus, the high-priest, three months : Mytgonus and Gerastratus the son of Abdelemus, six years : after them Balatorus reigned one year. After his death they sent to fetch Merbalus from Babylon ; and he reigned four years : and when he died they sent for Hiromus [Hiram], his brother, who reigned twenty years. In his time Cyrus was king of Persia."' — Joseph, contr. Ap. lib. i. cap. 21.

1 Ethbaal seems to have been a common Phoenician name. The first Tyrian king of this name gave his daughter Jezebel, (whence our name Isabella), to wife to Ahab, King of Israel. The sovereign here mentioned transferred the seat of government to Tyre on the island, which, in the time of Alexander the Great, was joined to Old Tyre on the mainland.

2 Menander does not say that at the end of the time the city was taken. We learn this, however, from other sources, although some, from the silence of Menander, have inferred that Nebuchadnezzar raised the siege and departed without capturing Tyre.

End of the Fragments from Menander.