Near East

Aretas, the name of several kings of the *Nabataeans (Nabataean Aramaic form ḥrtt).

reigned in the early 2nd cent. bce (c.168).

(c.120–96 bce, possibly = the Arab king Herotimus in Justin’s Epitome of Pompeius Trogus) tried to help *Gaza (an important conduit for Nabataean trade) against the attack of Alexander Jannaeus (see hasmoneans), who was defeated by his successor, Obodas I (c.96–85) probably c.93.

‘Philhellen’ (c.84-60/59 bce) also defeated Jannaeus and for some fifteen years occupied *Damascus. He gave refuge to Hyrcanus II in 67 (see hasmoneans) and in 66 besieged Jerusalem, until he was compelled to leave by M. *Aemilius Scaurus (2), who in 62 advanced to Petra but in return for 300 talents of silver recognized Aretas as king of the Nabataeans.

Chaeremon of *Alexandria (1), where he held a priesthood: Greek writer on Egypt. He taught the young *Nero. His writings treated Egyptian history, religion, customs, astrology, and hieroglyphic writings. A Stoic viewpoint is visible.

Iulius Philippus, Marcus, Roman emperor 244–9 ce. An Arabian from Shahbā (SE of *Damascus), he became praetorian prefect of *Gordian III and, early in 244, succeeded him as emperor. After making peace with Persia, he immediately went to Rome. His reign saw the thousandth anniversary of the city (247–8), and the beginning of the 3rd-cent. ‘crisis’ proper, characterized by invasion over the Danube (see danuvius) and Roman civil war. Philippus repelled the Carpi (245/7), but left Pacatian's rebellion and a major Gothic incursion (see goths) to *Decius (248/9). Decius' troops proclaimed him emperor in summer 249, and in the autumn he defeated and killed Philippus at Verona.

Stories that Philippus engineered the death of Gordian III, and was a Christian (see christianity), are unconvincing. More significant is his typical—as a gifted provincial administrator—late-Severan ascent through the equestrian hierarchy to become a careful and conscientious ruler, only to discover that military skills now counted for more than bureaucratic ones.