| Eunus | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Statue of Eunus in Enna, Sicily. | |||||
| King of Enna | |||||
| Reign | c. 135 – 132 BC | ||||
| Coronation | c. 135 BC | ||||
| Died | 132 BC | ||||
| |||||
Eunus (died 132 BC) was a Roman slave from Apamea in Syria who became the leader and king of the slave uprising during the First Servile War (135 BC–132 BC) in the Roman province of Sicily. According to the historian Florus, his name is remembered due to the severe defeats he inflicted on the Romans.[1]
Eunus rose to prominence in the movement through his reputation as a prophet and wonder-worker and ultimately declared himself king.[2] He claimed to receive visions and communications from the goddess Atargatis, a prominent goddess in his homeland whom he identified with the Sicilian Demeter and the Roman Ceres.[3]
Some of Eunus' prophecies, namely that the rebel slaves would successfully capture the city of Enna and that he would be a king some day, came true.[4] Eunus and his revolt were successful for several years, repeatedly defeating praetorian armies and requiring consuls from 134–132 BC to be sent against him.[5][6] He was eventually defeated, dying in captivity in 132 BC.[7]
- ^ Flor., 2.7.19.4.
- ^ Urbainczyk 2014, pp. 52, 56.
- ^ Green 1961, p. 21.
- ^ Green 1961, p. 11.
- ^ Brennan 1993, p. 153.
- ^ Morton 2008, p. 97.
- ^ Urbainczyk 2014, p. 55; Morton 2013, 2.2.