Kings of Byblos

The Kings of Byblos were the rulers of the city-state of Byblos, the ancient Phoenician city in what is now Lebanon.

Scholars have pieced together the fragmented list from various archaeological finds since the 19th century.

Early Bronze Age

• Ib-dadi, contemporary of Amar-Sin (r. 2046–2037 BC) at the end of Early Bronze IVB (c.2150-2020/2000 BCE).

Middle Bronze Age

Some kings of Byblos from an early period are known from Egyptian and local finds:

• Abishemu I, probably contemporary of Amenemhat III (late 12th Dynasty of Egypt).
• Yapi-shemu-abi, contemporary of Amenemhat IV (late 12th Dynasty of Egypt).
• Yakin-ilu, contemporary of Sehetepibre I/II.
• Yantin-Ê¿ammu, contemporary of Zimri-Lim (r. 1775-1760 BCE). Some speculate that he is identical to Yantin, contemporary of Neferhotep I (mid-late 13th Dynasty of Egypt).

Uncertain rulers:

• Ilima-yapi? - a prince, not explicitly of Byblos.
• Ḥasrurum son of Rum, a ruler of the land of Byblos, probably contemporary of Sihathor.
• Abishemu II.
• YapaÊ¿-shemu-abi, son of Abishemu (probably the second).
• Ê¿egel, son of Abishemu (probably the second), probably identical to Ê¿egliya (whose father name is unknown).

Late Bronze Age

Egyptian period

• Rib-Hadda, writer of dozens of Amarna letters. c.1350 BC.
• Ili-Rapih, writer of two of Amarna letters. c.1320 BC.

Iron Age

Phoenician period

• Zakar Baal, mentioned in Story of Wenamun. 1100s BC.
• 1000s BC Ahiram
• c.1000 BC Zakar Baal (II?)
• c.980 BC Ithobaal? Pilsibaal?
• c.940 BC Yehimilk
• c.930 BC Abibaal
• c.920 BC Elibaal
• c.900 BC Safatba'al (I)

Assyrian period

Ashurnasirpal II received tributes from the kings of the sea coast, among them the king of Byblos.

• Safatba‘al II (Sibitti-biÊ¿il in Akkadian), mentioned among the kings of who brought payment to Tiglath-Pileser III in his 8th year (738 BC).
• Urumilki (Ūru-milki in Akkadian), mentioned in a list of the kings of the land Amurru (the Levant) who brought tribute to Sennacherib in his campaign in the Levant.
• Milkiashapa (Milki-aÅ¡apa in Akkadian), mentioned among the kings of the Levant and Cyprus who were summoned and ordered to send tribute to Esarhaddon, c.670 BC. Milki-Ashapa is also mentioned in the first campaign of Ashurbanipal.
• c.650 BC Yehawmelek

Classical Age

Persian period

• c. 500 BC Safatba'al (III)
• c. 480 BC Urimilk II
• c. 470 BC Yeḥarbaal (son of Urimilk II)
• c. 450 BC Yehawmilk (son of Yeḥarbaal)

Based on coins:

• c. 425 BC Elpaal (’LP‘L)
• c. 400 BC ‘Ozbaal (‘ZB‘L; son of Batnoam and the priest Paltibaal)
• c. 375 BC Urimilk III (’WRMLK)
• 332 BC ‘Aynel (‘YN’L; Enylus), who cooperated with Alexander the Great in the siege of Tyre.

Roman period

• 68 BC Cinyrus

See also

• King of Tyre
• King of Sidon

References