Eshmunazar II

Eshmunazar II
Phoenician-inscribed sarcophagus of King Eshmunazar II from the Sidon royal necropolis, displayed in the Louvre
King of Sidon
Reign	c. 539 BC – c. 525 BC
Predecessor	Tabnit I
Successor	Bodashtart
Burial	Sidon royal necropolis
Phoenician language	𐤀𐤔𐤌𐤍𐤏𐤆𐤓‎
Dynasty	Eshmunazar I dynasty
Religion	Canaanite polytheism

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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 various parts of Sidon and its neighboring territories. During his reign, King Cambyses II of Persia rewarded Sidon for its military contributions to his campaign against Egypt by granting Sidon additional territory. Eshmunazar II is primarily known for his sarcophagus, which features two Phoenician inscriptions; it is currently housed in the Louvre Museum.