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{{distinguish|Lysanias of Sphettus}}
{{distinguish|Lysanias of Sphettus}}


There are two mentions in ancient literature of a '''Lysanias''' who ruled an area of Palestine in the late first century BC or early first century AD. It has been debated whether these are the same person.
'''Lysanias''' was the ruler of a small realm on the western slopes of Mount Hermon, attested to by the Jewish writer Josephus and in coins from circa 40 BCE. There is also mention of a '''Lysanias''' dated to 29 CE in the gospel of Luke. It has been debated whether these are the same person.


== Lysanias in Josephus ==
== Lysanias in history ==


Josephus refers to a '''Lysanias''' who was the ruler of a tetrarchy, centered on the town of Abila. This has been referred to by various names including [[Abilene (biblical)|Abilene]], [[Chalcis, Syria|Chalcis]] and [[Iturea]], from about 40-36 BC.
Lysanias was the ruler of a tetrarchy, centered on the town of Abila. This has been referred to by various names including [[Abilene (biblical)|Abilene]], [[Chalcis, Syria|Chalcis]] and [[Iturea]], from about 40-36 BCE. Josephus is our main source for the life of Lysanias.


His father was [[Ptolemy (son of Mennaeus)|Ptolemy]] son of Mennaeus who ruled the tetrarchy before him.
His father was [[Ptolemy (son of Mennaeus)|Ptolemy]] son of Mennaeus who ruled the tetrarchy before him. Lysanias was cousin of [[Antigonus the Hasmonean|Antigonus]], who he helped during the latter's attempt to claim the throne of [[Judea]] in 40 BCE with the military support of the [[Parthians]].


According to [[Josephus]] (B.J. 1.248), he offered the Parthian satrap [[Barzapharnes]] "a thousand talents and 500 women to bring Antigonus back and raise him to the throne, after deposing Hyrcanus". However, Josephus in his later work, the [[Jewish Antiquities]] 14.330-331, relates that it was Antigonus who made the offer to the Parthians. Whichever the case, Lysanias was put to death by [[Mark Antony]] for his Parthian sympathies, at the instigation of [[Cleopatra]], who had eyes on the territories of Lysanias.
Lysanias was cousin of [[Antigonus the Hasmonean|Antigonus]], who he helped during the latter's attempt to claim the throne of [[Judea]] in 40 BC with the military support of the [[Parthians]].


⚫
Coins from his reign indicate that he was "tetrarch and high priest". The same description can be found on the coins of his father, Ptolemy son of Mennaeus and on those of a possible near relative Zenodorus who held the territory in 23-20 BCE<ref>The coins available on internet change frequently, though one should always be able to find examples on Wildwinds [http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/syria/chalkis/]</ref>.
According to [[Josephus]] (B.J. 1.248), he offered the Parthian satrap [[Barzapharnes]] "a thousand talents and 500 women to bring Antigonus back and raise him to the throne, after deposing Hyrcanus".

However, Josephus in his later work, the [[Jewish Antiquities]] 14.330-331, relates that it was Antigonus who made the offer to the Parthians.

Whichever the case, Lysanias was put to death by [[Mark Antony]] for his Parthian sympathies, at the instigation of [[Cleopatra]], who had eyes on the territories of Lysanias.

⚫
Coins from his reign indicate that he was "tetrarch and high priest". The same description can be found on the coins of his father, Ptolemy son of Mennaeus and on those of a possible near relative Zenodorus who held the territory in 23-20 BC.


== Lysanias in Luke ==
== Lysanias in Luke ==
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and also in ''Antiquities'' (''Ant''. xix.5, 1).
and also in ''Antiquities'' (''Ant''. xix.5, 1).


⚫
== Archaeological Lysanias ==
⚫
Two inscriptions have been ascribed to the younger Lysanias. <ref>P. Bockh, ''Corpus Inscriptionum Graecarum'' 4521 and 4523</ref>. The name is conjectural in the latter case.


⚫
Two inscriptions have been ascribed to Lysanias. <ref>P. Bockh, ''Corpus Inscriptionum Graecarum'' 4521 and 4523</ref>. The name is conjectural in the latter case.
⚫
=== Archaeological evidence ===


The first, a temple inscription found at Abila, named Lysanias as the Tetrarch of the locality.<ref>John Hogg, "On the City of Abila, and the District Called Abilene near Mount Lebanon, and on a Latin Inscription at the River Lycus, in the North of Syria", Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Vol. 20 (1850), p. 43.</ref>
An inscription was found on a temple from the time of Tiberius (the Roman emperor from 14 - 37 AD), which named Lysanias as the Tetrarch of Abila near Damascus.<ref>[http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/ffbruce/ntdocrli/ntdocc07.htm F.F.Bruce, ''New Testament Documents'', chapter 7]</ref>


The temple inscription reads:
The temple inscription reads:
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The reference to August lords is a joint title given only to the emperor Tiberius (son of Augustus) and his mother Livia (widow of Augustus). <ref>[http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/ffbruce/ntdocrli/ntdocc07.htm F.F.Bruce, ''New Testament Documents'', chapter 7]</ref>
It has been thought that the reference to August lords as a joint title was given only to the emperor Tiberius (son of Augustus) and his mother Livia (widow of Augustus) <ref>[http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/ffbruce/ntdocrli/ntdocc07.htm F.F.Bruce, ''New Testament Documents'', chapter 7]</ref>. This reference would establish the date of the inscription to between A.D. 14 (when Tiberius began to reign) and 29 (when Livia died), and thus could not be reasonably interpreted as referring to the ruler executed by Mark Antony in 36 BCE. However, Augustus and Livia together were referred to during their lifetimes as SEBASTWI, ie Augusti, so their is no reason to assume this fragment should be dated as late as the reign of Augustus<ref>See the coin from Smyrna showing Augustus and Livia captioned ''SEBASTWI ZMURNAIWI'' and dated 10 BCE at Wildwinds [http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/augustus/i.html]</ref>.

This reference would establish the date of the inscription to between A.D. 14 (when Tiberius began to reign) and 29 (when Livia died). Some would argue however that since Tiberius became legally equal to Augustus in AD 13, the window might be wider.

Using the second date the 15th year of Tiberius is the year 27 A.D. (13 AD being year 1 and so on ), and it lies within the reign of the August lords. This evidence supports Luke's reference that Lysanias was a tetrarch around the time of John the baptist (27 A.D.). Using the first date would give 28 AD, also within the range.


== Possible identity of the two figures ==
== Possible identity of the two figures ==
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Some say that the Lysanias whose tetrarchy was given to Agrippa cannot be the Lysanias executed by Antony, since his paternal inheritance, even allowing for some curtailment by [[Pompey]], must have been of far greater extent. Therefore the Lysanias in Luke (AD [[28]]-[[29]]) is a younger Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene only, one of the districts into which the original kingdom was split up after the death of Lysanias I. This younger Lysanias may have been a son of the latter, and identical with, or the father of, the Claudian Lysanias.
Some say that the Lysanias whose tetrarchy was given to Agrippa cannot be the Lysanias executed by Antony, since his paternal inheritance, even allowing for some curtailment by [[Pompey]], must have been of far greater extent. Therefore the Lysanias in Luke (AD [[28]]-[[29]]) is a younger Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene only, one of the districts into which the original kingdom was split up after the death of Lysanias I. This younger Lysanias may have been a son of the latter, and identical with, or the father of, the Claudian Lysanias.


But Josephus does not refer to a second Lysanias. It is therefore suggested by others that he really does refer to the original Lysanias, even though the latter died decades earlier. The explanation given by M. Krenkel <ref>M. Krenkel, ''Josephus und Lucas'', Leipzig, 1894, p. 97</ref> is that Josephus does not mean to imply that Abila was the only possession of Lysanias, and that he calls it the tetrarchy or kingdom of Lysanias because it was the last remnant of the domain of Lysanias which remained under direct [[Roman Empire|Roman administration]] until the time of Agrippa.
But Josephus does not refer to a second Lysanias. It is therefore suggested by others that he really does refer to the original Lysanias, even though the latter died decades earlier. In BJ 2.215 Josephus refers to the realm as being "''called'' the kingdom of Lysanias", while Ptolemy writing circa 120 CE in his Geography Bk 5 refers to Abila as "''called'' of Lysanias"<ref>Cited in Hogg, loc. cit., p.42</ref> Such long lasting associations between people and places were not uncommon: one need only think of Caesarea Philippi, named after the tetrarch Philip II who died in 34 CE, yet preserved in the New Testament.

The explanation given by M. Krenkel <ref>M. Krenkel, ''Josephus und Lucas'', Leipzig, 1894, p. 97 cited in Encyclopaedia Britannica 1911 entry: Lysanias [http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Lysanias]</ref> is that Josephus does not mean to imply that Abila was the only possession of Lysanias, and that he calls it the tetrarchy or kingdom of Lysanias because it was the last remnant of the domain of Lysanias which remained under direct [[Roman Empire|Roman administration]] until the time of Agrippa.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 12:17, 8 November 2008

Not to be confused with Lysanias of Sphettus.

Lysanias was the ruler of a small realm on the western slopes of Mount Hermon, attested to by the Jewish writer Josephus and in coins from circa 40 BCE. There is also mention of a Lysanias dated to 29 CE in the gospel of Luke. It has been debated whether these are the same person.

Lysanias in history

Lysanias was the ruler of a tetrarchy, centered on the town of Abila. This has been referred to by various names including Abilene, Chalcis and Iturea, from about 40-36 BCE. Josephus is our main source for the life of Lysanias.

His father was Ptolemy son of Mennaeus who ruled the tetrarchy before him. Lysanias was cousin of Antigonus, who he helped during the latter's attempt to claim the throne of Judea in 40 BCE with the military support of the Parthians.

According to Josephus (B.J. 1.248), he offered the Parthian satrap Barzapharnes "a thousand talents and 500 women to bring Antigonus back and raise him to the throne, after deposing Hyrcanus". However, Josephus in his later work, the Jewish Antiquities 14.330-331, relates that it was Antigonus who made the offer to the Parthians. Whichever the case, Lysanias was put to death by Mark Antony for his Parthian sympathies, at the instigation of Cleopatra, who had eyes on the territories of Lysanias.

Coins from his reign indicate that he was "tetrarch and high priest". The same description can be found on the coins of his father, Ptolemy son of Mennaeus and on those of a possible near relative Zenodorus who held the territory in 23-20 BCE[1].

Lysanias in Luke

The Luke 3:1 records that a Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene in the time of John the Baptist.

According to Josephus the emperor Claudius in AD 42 confirmed Agrippa I in the possession of Abila of Lysanias already bestowed upon him by Caligula, elsewhere described as Abila, which had formed the tetrarchy of Lysanias. The statement appears in the Wars:

"He added to it the kingdom of Lysanias, and that province of Abilene" [2]

and also in Antiquities (Ant. xix.5, 1).

Archaeological Lysanias

Two inscriptions have been ascribed to Lysanias. [3]. The name is conjectural in the latter case.

The first, a temple inscription found at Abila, named Lysanias as the Tetrarch of the locality.[4]

The temple inscription reads:

Inscription Translation
Huper tes ton kurion Se[baston] For the salvation of the Au[gust] lords
soterias kai tou sum[pantos] and of [all] their household,
auton oikou, Numphaios Ae[tou] Nymphaeus, free[dman] of Ea[gle]
Lusianiou tetrarchou apele[utheors] Lysanias tetrarch established
ten odon ktisas k.t.l this street and other things.

It has been thought that the reference to August lords as a joint title was given only to the emperor Tiberius (son of Augustus) and his mother Livia (widow of Augustus) [5]. This reference would establish the date of the inscription to between A.D. 14 (when Tiberius began to reign) and 29 (when Livia died), and thus could not be reasonably interpreted as referring to the ruler executed by Mark Antony in 36 BCE. However, Augustus and Livia together were referred to during their lifetimes as SEBASTWI, ie Augusti, so their is no reason to assume this fragment should be dated as late as the reign of Augustus[6].

Possible identity of the two figures

There is some debate over whether these sources refer to the same person, or two different people.

Some say that the Lysanias whose tetrarchy was given to Agrippa cannot be the Lysanias executed by Antony, since his paternal inheritance, even allowing for some curtailment by Pompey, must have been of far greater extent. Therefore the Lysanias in Luke (AD 28-29) is a younger Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene only, one of the districts into which the original kingdom was split up after the death of Lysanias I. This younger Lysanias may have been a son of the latter, and identical with, or the father of, the Claudian Lysanias.

But Josephus does not refer to a second Lysanias. It is therefore suggested by others that he really does refer to the original Lysanias, even though the latter died decades earlier. In BJ 2.215 Josephus refers to the realm as being "called the kingdom of Lysanias", while Ptolemy writing circa 120 CE in his Geography Bk 5 refers to Abila as "called of Lysanias"[7] Such long lasting associations between people and places were not uncommon: one need only think of Caesarea Philippi, named after the tetrarch Philip II who died in 34 CE, yet preserved in the New Testament.

The explanation given by M. Krenkel [8] is that Josephus does not mean to imply that Abila was the only possession of Lysanias, and that he calls it the tetrarchy or kingdom of Lysanias because it was the last remnant of the domain of Lysanias which remained under direct Roman administration until the time of Agrippa.

References

  1. ^ The coins available on internet change frequently, though one should always be able to find examples on Wildwinds [1]
  2. ^ Josephus Jewish War Book 2, 12:8
  3. ^ P. Bockh, Corpus Inscriptionum Graecarum 4521 and 4523
  4. ^ John Hogg, "On the City of Abila, and the District Called Abilene near Mount Lebanon, and on a Latin Inscription at the River Lycus, in the North of Syria", Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Vol. 20 (1850), p. 43.
  5. ^ F.F.Bruce, New Testament Documents, chapter 7
  6. ^ See the coin from Smyrna showing Augustus and Livia captioned SEBASTWI ZMURNAIWI and dated 10 BCE at Wildwinds [2]
  7. ^ Cited in Hogg, loc. cit., p.42
  8. ^ M. Krenkel, Josephus und Lucas, Leipzig, 1894, p. 97 cited in Encyclopaedia Britannica 1911 entry: Lysanias [3]
  • Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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