Sampsiceramus II (, ; 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 Homs ( ; ), known in pre-Islamic times as Emesa ( ; ), is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is above sea level and is located north of Damascus. Located on the Orontes River, Homs is also the central link b ...

following the death of his grandfather, Iamblichus II. His father Sohaemus ruled from 20 BC to 14 AD in

Chalcis Chalcis (; Ancient Greek and Katharevousa: , ), also called Chalkida or Halkida (Modern Greek: , ), is the chief city of the island of Euboea or Evia in Greece, situated on the Euripus Strait at its narrowest point. The name is preserved from ...

, as a vassal of Iamblichus II. According to a surviving inscription at the

Temple of Bel The Temple of Bel (), 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 (mythology), Bel, worshipped at Palmyra in triad with the lunar god Ag ...

Palmyra Palmyra ( ; Palmyrene dialect, Palmyrene: (), romanized: ''Tadmor''; ) is an ancient city in central Syria. It is located in the eastern part of the Levant, and archaeological finds date back to the Neolithic period, and documents first menti ...

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

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

. In the inscription he is mentioned alongside the Roman general

Germanicus Germanicus Julius Caesar (24 May 15 BC – 10 October AD 19) was a Roman people, Roman general and politician most famously known for his campaigns against Arminius in Germania. The son of Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia the Younger, Germanicu ...

, the adoptive son and nephew of the Roman emperor

Tiberius Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus ( ; 16 November 42 BC – 16 March AD 37) was Roman emperor from AD 14 until 37. He succeeded his stepfather Augustus, the first Roman emperor. Tiberius was born in Rome in 42 BC to Roman politician Tiberius Cl ...

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

Agrippa I Herod Agrippa I ( Roman name: Marcus Julius Agrippa; ), also simply known as Herod Agrippa, Agrippa I, () or Agrippa the Great, was the last king of Judea. He was a grandson of Herod the Great and the father of Herod Agrippa II, the last known k ...

Tiberias Tiberias ( ; , ; ) is a city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. A major Jewish center during Late Antiquity, it has been considered since the 16th century one of Judaism's Four Holy Cities, along with Jerusalem, Heb ...

. 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 Caius, was a common Latin praenomen; see Gaius (praenomen). People *Gaius (biblical figure) (1st century AD) *Gaius (jurist) (), Roman jurist *Gaius Acilius *Gaius Antonius *Gaius Antonius Hybrida * Gaius Asinius Gallus * ...

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 from Roman Syria Emesene dynasty Roman client monarchs 1st-century monarchs in the Middle East 1st-century Romans 1st-century Arab people