Eshmunazar II

6th-century BC Phoenician king of Sidon Eshmunazar IIPhoenician-inscribed sarcophagus of King Eshmunazar II from the Sidon royal necropolis, displayed in the LouvreKing of SidonReignc. 539 BC – c. 525 BCPredecessorTabnit ISuccessorBodashtartBurialSidon royal necropolisPhoenician language𐤀𐤔𐤌𐤍𐤏𐤆𐤓‎DynastyEshmunazar I dynastyReligionCanaanite polytheism Eshmunazar II ([æʃmuːn ʔɑːzər] ⓘ; Phoenician: 𐤀𐤔𐤌𐤍𐤏𐤆𐤓, ʾšmnʿzr, lit. 'Eshmun helps') was the Phoenician king of Sidon (r. c. 539 – c. 525 BC). He was the grandson of Eshmunazar I, and a vassal king of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. Eshmunazar II succeeded his father Tabnit I who ruled for a short time and died before the birth of his son. Tabnit I was succeeded by his sister-wife Amoashtart who ruled alone until Eshmunazar II's birth, and then acted as his regent until the time he would have reached majority. Eshmunazar II died prematurely at the age of 14. He was succeeded by his cousin Bodashtart. Eshmunazar II came from a lineage of priests of the goddess Astarte, and his rule saw a strong emphasis on religious activities. He and his mother Amoashtart built temples in variou