Rabbel II Soter

Rabbel II Soter
King of the Nabataean Kingdom
Silver drachm
Silver drachm of Rabbel II with Shaqilat II
Reign70-106 AD
PredecessorMalichus II
SuccessorNabataean Kingdom conquered by Trajan
RegentShaqilath II (70-76 AD)
Died106 AD
SpousesQueen Gamilath (76-102 AD)
Queen Hagaru (102-106 AD)
Silver drachm of Rabbel II with Gamilat

Rabbel II Soter (Nabataean Aramaic: ‎𐢛𐢃𐢁𐢐 𐢅𐢌 𐢁𐢊𐢍𐢌 𐢉𐢝𐢍𐢉𐢂 𐢗𐢓𐢆‎[1] Rabʾel dī ʾaḥyēy wa-šēzīb ʿammeh,[2] "Rabbel, who gave life and deliverance to his people") was the last ruler of the Nabataean Kingdom, ruling from 70 to 106.[3][4]

After the death of his father, Malichus II, Rabbel still a child, ascended to the throne. His mother, Shaqilath II, assumed the regency of the Nabataean Kingdom, during the minority of her son Rabel II in 70-76 AD.[5] His sister Gamilath became queen of the Nabataeans. Rabbel gave himself the Greek title "Soter",[3] meaning "Savior".[6] He reigned with his first wife Queen Gamilath and his second wife Queen Hagaru.[7] Gamilat was a queen in 76–102 AD and Hagru was a queen in 102–106.[8]

After his death in 106,[4] the Roman emperor Trajan faced practically no resistance and conquered the kingdom on 22 March 106. It became the Roman province of Arabia Petraea, with Bosra becoming its provincial capital.[3]

  1. ^ Bowersock, G. W. “Syria under Vespasian.” Journal of Roman Studies, vol. 63, 1973, pp. 133–140., doi:10.2307/299172.
  2. ^ John F. Healey (29 October 2009). Aramaic Inscriptions and Documents of the Roman Period. Oxford University Press. pp. 95–. ISBN 978-0-19-155484-1. OCLC 1120907984.
  3. ^ a b c Taylor (2001), pp.73-74
  4. ^ a b Schürer, Emil; Millar, Fergus; Vermes, Geza (26 March 2015). The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 583. ISBN 978-0-567-50161-5.
  5. ^ al-ʻĀmmah, Jordan Dāʼirat al-Āthār (2008). حولية دائرة الآثار العامة. Vol. 52. Department of Antiquities, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. p. 16.
  6. ^ Richard, Suzanne (2003). Near Eastern Archaeology: A Reader. Eisenbrauns. p. 435. ISBN 978-1-57506-083-5.
  7. ^ The Numismatic Chronicle. Vol. 154. Royal Numismatic Society. 1994. p. 116.
  8. ^ Joukowsky, Martha Sharp (1998). Petra Great Temple. Vol. 1. M. Joukowsky. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-9668024-0-5.