Kings of Byblos
The Kings of Byblos were the rulers of Byblos, the ancient Phoenician city in what is now Lebanon.
Scholars have pieced together the fragmented list from various archaeological finds since the 19th century.
Early period
Some kings of Byblos from an early period are known from Egyptian and local finds:- Ib-dadi, contemporary of Amar-Sin.
- Abishemu I, probably contemporary of Amenemhat III.
- Yapi-shemu-abi, contemporary of Amenemhat IV.
- Yakin-ilu, contemporary of Sehetepibre I/II.
- Yantin-ʿammu, contemporary of Zimri-Lim, probably identical to Yantin, contemporary of Neferhotep I.
- Ilima-yapi? - a prince, not explicitly of Byblos.
- Ḥasrurum son of Rum, a ruler of the land of Byblos, probably contemporary of Sihathor.
- Abishemu II.
- Yapaʿ-shemu-abi, son of Abishemu.
- ʿegel, son of Abishemu, probably identical to ʿegliya.
Egyptian period
- Rib-Hadda, writer of dozens of Amarna letters. c.1340s BC.
- Ili-Rapih, writer of two of Amarna letters. c.1320 BC.
- Aziru, c.1320? BC.
- Zakar Baal, mentioned in Story of Wenamun. 1100s BC.
Phoenician golden age
- 1000s BC Ahiram
- c.1000 BC Zakar Baal
- c.980 BC Ithobaal? Pilsibaal?
- c.940 BC Yehimilk
- c.930 BC Abibaal
- c.920 BC Elibaal
- c.900 BC Safatba'al
Assyrian period
- Safatba‘al II, mentioned among the kings of who brought payment to Tiglath-Pileser III in his 8th year.
- Urumilki, mentioned in a list of the kings of the land Amurru who brought tribute to Sennacherib in his campaign in the Levant.
- Milkiashapa, mentioned among the kings of the Levant and Cyprus who were summoned and ordered to send tribute to Esarhaddon, c.670 BC. Milki-Ashapa is also mentioned in the first campaign of Ashurbanipal.
- c.650 BC Yehawmelek
Persian period
- c. 500 BC Safatba'al
- c. 480 BC Urimilk II
- c. 470 BC Yeḥarbaal
- c. 450 BC Yehawmilk
- c. 425 BC Elpaal
- c. 400 BC ‘Ozbaal
- c. 375 BC Urimilk III
- 332 BC ‘Aynel, who cooperated with Alexander the Great in the siege of Tyre.
Roman period
- 68 BC Cinyrus