Greek ARADOS?

Greek ARADOS?

 

In the Hellenistic period Arados extends his maritime power and trade power. The Phoenician trader disperses in all directions as they have always done. We encounter people from Arados in Abydos in Egypt (a guy named Abdo), or in Demetrias in Greece (Hieronimou Aradios), where we can also read the message that three men came to Demetrias and left behind one Phoenician. They use Greek names, but they came from Sidon, Arados and Kition. Another example is Asklépiades, born in Arados, who left his signature behind in Delos on a mosaic in the house of the dolphins. Delos had at a specific moment 333 residents from the East, of which were 120 Tyrians and some out of Arados and Marathos. Jason of Arados is a money-lender at Delos and his son (or father) possesses there in 274 BC a fleet of round ships. In the 2^nd century a counting is made of youngsters from eastern origin: 10 Tyrian, 7 from Berytos, 5 from Arados, 2 from Marathos, 3 from Sidon and 2 from Ascalon. In an inscription is Héraios named, a son of Philostratos from Arados and he is the boss of a Kléopatra of Marathos. Another Philostratos from Arados exploits a profitable trade in silver in the 1^st century BC. In a word there exists a close relationship between Delos and Arados.

 

Was Arados becoming all Greek? No, the upper-class to a certain degree, but the common people stayed for still a long time Phoenician as we can see from the inscription where most names can easily traced back to Phoenician.

From the year 259 BC Arados issues a new series of coins, when probably the institution of kings is abandoned. These coins are coming from workshops in Carné and Marathos. We can see on the coins the images of Tyche, Poseidon, Nike, a palm-tree, a bowsprit, a stag, a bee and Greek letters. Seleucus, the king of Seleucia, gives to Arados a remarkable right of asyl (Strabo 754). Arados is allowed to take in fugitives, who are then bound to the island. Arados has of course a preference for rich fugitives (Polyb.5.68). Marathos on the opposite coast is getting more important and in the end it will be more important than Arados. In 218 BC Arados makes a treaty with Antiochus III of Seleucia. A conflict with Marathos is settled. In 191 BC the town provides Hannibal ships for a sea-battle against the Rhodian fleet. Slowly the amount of news around Arados diminishes, In 64 BC the Romans take over the town and then Aradus slips away in oblivion. Antaradus takes over the dominant position of Arados.

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