Pygmalion of Tyre

For other uses, see Pygmalion.
Pygmalion
King of Tyre
King of Tyre
Reign831 BC – 785 BC
PredecessorMattan I
Successorunknown
Born841 or 843 BC
Tyre, presumed
Died785 BC
DynastyHouse of Ithobaal I
FatherMattan I
Motherunknown

Pygmalion (Ancient Greek: Πυγμαλίων Pugmaliōn; Latin: Pygmalion) was king of Tyre[1] from 831 to 785 BCE and a son of King Mattan I (840–832 BC).

During Pygmalion's reign, Tyre seems to have shifted the heart of its trading empire from the Middle East to the Mediterranean, as can be judged from the building of new colonies including Kition on Cyprus, Sardinia (see Nora Stone discussion below), and, according to tradition, Carthage. For the story surrounding the founding of Carthage, see Dido.

  1. ^ The traditional king-list of Tyre is derived from Josephus, Against Apion i. 18, 21, and Jewish Antiquities viii. 5.3; 13.2. His list was based on Menander of Ephesus, who drew his information from the chronicles of Tyre. (Jewish Encyclopedia: "Phenicia").