Joseph. Antiq. l. 16. c. 11. p. 506.SYLLÆUS, an Arabian Prince. He came to Jerusalem with a Commission from Obodas King of Arabia, to treat of some Affairs, and fell in love with Salome the Sister of Herod, who was then Widow to Costobarus. He propos’d the Match to her, and Salome shew’d no Repugnance to it; and it was soon perceiv’d at Herod’s Court, that Salome and Syllæus had no Aversion to each other. Some Time after Syllæus return’d back to Obodas, but was obliged to make a second Journey into Judea, upon the same Account that had brought him thither before. Then he asked of King Herod, that he might have leave to marry his Sister Salome. Herod spoke to her of it, who easily consented to it. But when it was propos’d to Syllæus to make Profession of Judaism, which was to be one of the Conditions of the Marriage, he absolutely refus’d, saying, He should be stoned at his Return into his own Country, if he changed his Religion. And thus he return’d again to Obodas.
This is the same Syllæus,1 who, having engaged to provide Ælius Gallus with Guides and Ammunition for an Expedition he was to make into Arabia, betray’d him, and forfeited his Word. He exercised the same Treachery towards his King Obodas, whom he deprived of his Kingdom, and left him only the Name of King. And when Herod demanded of him sixty Talents, which he had lent him for the Use of Obodas his Master;2 instead of restoring this Sum, as he had promis’d upon Oath in presence of the Governors of Syria, Syllæus went to Rome, where he began to slander Herod to the Emperor Augustus. He, too credulously believing the Insinuations of this Sharper, was in great Wrath against Herod; but Herod afterwards undeceiving him, Augustus remanded Syllæus into the Province, that he might satisfy his Creditors, and be punish’d according to his Merits. He return’d indeed into Judea and Arabia, but perform’d nothing of what the Emperor had order’d him. He afterwards return’d to Rome, where Antipater the Son of Herod renew’d the same Complaints against him as had been made before3. Besides, he was convicted of attempting to poison Herod, by the Assistance of one Corinthus, who was one of his Guards; so that at last he there received the just Rewards of all his wicked Actions.
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Footnotes
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Strab. l. 10. p. 780, 781. In the Year of the World 3980, before Christ 20, before the vulgar Era 14. ↩
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Joseph. Antiq. l. 16. c. 13, 14, &c. In the Year of the World 3997, before Christ 3 & 4, and before the vulgar Era 7 & 8. ↩
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Joseph. Antiq. l. 17. c. 4. In the Year of the World 3999, before Christ 1, before the vulgar Era 5. ↩