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Arwad
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The conflict between the Solokian and the Ptolemaic:
www.tartoos.com
The
Ptolemaic had the natural resources concerning the marine constructions. For
that reason, they used the Lebanese mountains in Saidoun, Sour, and Tripoli.
For that, the Solokian were in need of the marine strength of Arwad and its
satisfaction.
So,
we see a letter directed from a king called Anlokhus (1st or 2nd)
to a governor, which includes that the prebend of Beit Sis and the areas
surrounding it belong to the temple of Zuis, and ordering by spending the
available incomes on presenting the sacrifices monthly to the temple itself.
Also, the necessity of holding the market twice and the letter grants the
right of seeking refuge to the temple and hiding in it. Also, there is a
special clause which includes release of the village from paying the Taxes.
Antiochus the 2nd granted Arwad its independence in order to secure
the help of its navy and its loyalty.
Arwad began stamping the silver Titra-drakhmats, and enjoyed the
privileges of the free city. The year / 259 B.C / was considered the start
point of its freedom, and a date for dating the incidents.In
225 / 224 B.C, Solokus the 3rd and Antiochus the 3rd are
contracting a financial deal with Somor (Simira), which is near the borders,
against Ptolemy the 4th. So, the Titra-drakhmat was used, and that
was, probably, for facilitating the pay of the soldiers' salaries.In
/ 118 / B.C, while Antiochus the 3rd was preparing a raid against
Egypt he came to Maratos, and the Arwads welcomed him to assure their loyalty.
Titus livus mentions that the Arwads boats became inside of the fleets of King
Antiochus.www.tartoos.com
Arwad didn't submit to the Egyptian occupation which didn't cross the Big
River.
Since / 219 / B.C, the stamping was stopped in Maratos and Carna for about 40
years, probably, owing to the disturbances which caused by the war or a
financial policy inside the Arwads union.
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- Arwad and the Roman era:
Syria became under role of the Roman Empire in 64B.C, and Arwad followed it
automatically, but it retained in a way its independence like Saidoun, Sour,
and Tripoli. It continued stamping the silver Titra-drakhmats .When the
separation between the Caesar and Pompey took place; Arwad supported Pompey
and showed loyalty.
During the passage of the Caesar across the east in / 64 / B.C, he punished
Arwad for its partiality to Pompey, and Jableh had been separated. Also, the
stamping of Titra-drakhmats had been stopped.
Arwad tired to stay unaligned at the beginning of the clash between Casius and
Dollabella, the officers of Antonius and Octavious. When Dollabella went
toward the island to get the ships and the aids, he was coerced to seek refuge
in Lattakia. Whereas, Casius built a camp near Paltus (Arab Almolk).Dollabella
was arrested in Lawadisa (Lattakia). And according to the traditions which
were followed to protect the migrs, the arwads granted the political asylum to
a man called Ptolemy, the brother of Cleopatra, they refused to hand him out,
also, refused to pay the capitation, and belittled the magnets and messengers
of Antonius. But the plagues and famine coerced the defenders of the island to
surrender. In 38 / 37 and 35 / 34 B.C, bronze coins were stamped in Arwad and
Pallania carrying the picture of Marcus Antonius with his wife (Volvia) or
Cleopatra. Then, Pallania was separated as a punishment for its perverse
resistance in 37 B.C, which became the first year of the liberty of this city.
Probably, the fleet of Arwad stayed at the service of Octavious during the
civil wars. Then Julius appeared on the coins of Arwad next to Tekka, the
goddess of luck, after Actium battle in 31 B.C. Arwad kept its Hellenistic
institution and remained semi-independent. It was the only one which kept date
of its Hellenistic freedom during the Praetorian era , while the other cities
were adopting the dates of the historical deeds which were done by the Roman
such as Pompey's and Caesar’s era , and contented by local bronze coins and
the political privileges taken from the Solokian. But it began to go out and
weaken , and Antrados ( Tartous ) began to shine in order to take its rank ,
became a commercial station , built its port , grew , and flourished on the
account of the other cities .www.tartoos.com
What worth's mentioning is that St.Paul, probably, in his way to Rome, reached
Arwad, admired its statues, and preached its people by Christianity. By this,
Christianity is ingrained in Arwad which became, later on, a succeeding
diocese to Sour. The Roman Empire had been separated into two parts: eastern
(Byzantine) and western (Rome), and Arwad followed Byzantine.
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