Sampsiceramus II ( arc, 𐡔𐡌𐡔𐡂𐡓𐡌, Šamšigeram, grc, Γάϊος Ἰούλιος Σαμσιγέραμος, Gaius Julius Sampsigeramus; died 42 AD) was a Priest King of Emesa who reigned from 14 to 42 AD.

Biography

Sampsiceramus II became the priest-king in

Emesa ar, حمصي, Himsi , population_urban = , population_density_urban_km2 = , population_density_urban_sq_mi = , population_blank1_title = Ethnicities , population_blank1 = , population_blank2_t ...

following the death of his grandfather,

Iamblichus II Iamblichus (; grc-gre, Ἰάμβλιχος ; Aramaic: 𐡉𐡌𐡋𐡊𐡅 ''Yamlīḵū''; ) was a Syrian neoplatonic philosopher of Arabic origin. He determined a direction later taken by neoplatonism. Iamblichus was also the biographer of ...

. His father Sohaemus ruled from 20 BC to 14 AD in Chalcis, as a vassal of Iamblichus II. According to a surviving inscription at the

Temple of Bel The Temple of Bel ( ar, معبد بعل), sometimes also referred to as the "Temple of Baal", was an ancient temple located in Palmyra, Syria. The temple, consecrated to the Mesopotamian god Bel, worshipped at Palmyra in triad with the lunar g ...

Palmyra Palmyra (; Palmyrene: () ''Tadmor''; ar, تَدْمُر ''Tadmur'') is an ancient city in present-day Homs Governorate, Syria. Archaeological finds date back to the Neolithic period, and documents first mention the city in the early secon ...

, dating from the years 18/19, he may have acted as an intermediary between Palmyra and

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

. In the inscription he is mentioned alongside the Roman general Germanicus, the adoptive son and nephew of the Roman emperor

Tiberius Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus (; 16 November 42 BC – 16 March AD 37) was the second Roman emperor. He reigned from AD 14 until 37, succeeding his stepfather, the first Roman emperor Augustus. Tiberius was born in Rome in 42 BC. His father ...

. Before he died, Sampsiceramus II was convened by the Herodian King Agrippa I at

Tiberias Tiberias ( ; he, טְבֶרְיָה, ; ar, طبريا, Ṭabariyyā) is an Israeli city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. A major Jewish center during Late Antiquity, it has been considered since the 16th century one of Judaism's F ...

. Sampsiceramus II is also known from other surviving inscriptional evidence. In one inscription dating from his reign, Sampsiceramus II with his wife Iotapa are known as a ''happy couple''.Temporini, ''2, Principat: 9, 2, Volume 8'', p.214 However, Iotapa bore Sampsiceramus II four children: two sons,

Gaius Julius Azizus Gaius, sometimes spelled ''Gajus'', Kaius, Cajus, Caius, was a common Latin praenomen; see Gaius (praenomen). People * Gaius (jurist) (), Roman jurist *Gaius Acilius *Gaius Antonius *Gaius Antonius Hybrida *Gaius Asinius Gallus *Gaius Asinius P ...

and Sohaemus, and two daughters, Iotapa and Mamaea. After the death of Sampsiceramus II in 42 AD, his first son Azizus succeeded him. Posthumously Sampsiceramus II is honoured by his son, Sohaemus in an honorific Latin inscription dedicated to his son while he was a Patron of Heliopolis during his reign as King. In this inscription, Sampsiceramus II is honored as a ''Great King'' egis MagniTemporini, ''2, Principat: 9, 2, Volume 8'', p.213 Sampsiceramus II ruled as a ''Great King'' at least in local parlance.

References

Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sampsiceramus II 42 deaths People from Homs People of Roman Syria Emesene dynasty Roman client rulers 1st-century monarchs in the Middle East 1st-century Romans 1st-century Arabs