Ithobaal II facts for kids
Ithobaal II (also known as Itto-Baal or Ethbaal) was a king of the ancient city of Tyre in Phoenicia during the 700s BC. Not much is known about his time as king. We mainly know that he paid a special payment, called a tribute, to the powerful Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III in the year 738 BC.
Ithobaal II was followed as king by Hiram II in 738 BC or 737 BC. Hiram II also continued to pay tribute to the Assyrians.
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Who Was King Ithobaal II?
Ithobaal II ruled the city of Tyre, an important port city in ancient Phoenicia. Phoenicia was a land along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Today, this area is mostly modern-day Lebanon. The Phoenicians were famous sailors and traders. They built many cities, and Tyre was one of the most important.
Tyre and Its Kings
Tyre was a very wealthy city because of its trade. It had many kings over hundreds of years. Historians learn about these kings from ancient writings. One important historian named Josephus, who lived in the first century AD, wrote down a list of Tyrian kings. This list helps us understand who ruled Tyre.
Paying Tribute to Assyria
During Ithobaal II's reign, the Assyrian Empire was very powerful. The Assyrians often conquered other lands or made them pay tribute. Tribute was like a regular payment or gift that a weaker ruler had to give to a stronger ruler. It showed that the weaker ruler accepted the stronger ruler's power. By paying tribute, Ithobaal II likely kept Tyre safe from Assyrian attacks for a time.
What We Know About His Reign
There is a gap in the historical records of Tyrian kings before Ithobaal II. This means we don't have much information about the kings who ruled Tyre right before him. Some historians believe that Ithobaal II might have started his rule earlier than 738 BC. For example, historian Edward Lipiński thinks he might have become king around 760 BC. Another historian, Hayim Tadmor, suggests that the record of Ithobaal's tribute might actually be from 740 BC. Because of these gaps and different ideas, Ithobaal II's time as king remains a bit of a mystery.
