Abdylonymus

Abdylonymus was a gardener for the Persian Satrap of Sidon in the 3rd century BC. 12 years before Alexander's arrival at the city, there had been an uprising against Persian rule and the rebels had wanted to torch the gardens of the satrap. Abdylonymus would not allow this, saying that any who would damage the garden would have to first dirty their hands with his blood.

When Alexander the Great took the city, he had Hephaestion choose a new king, for the local dynasty had been destroyed. Abdylonymus was chosen, and crowned King of Sidon, swearing loyalty to Alexander.

The so-called "Alexander Sarcophagus," discovered near Sidon and now in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, is now generally thought to be that of Abdylonymus, though some scholars now believe the sarcophagus was that of Mazaeus, a Persian noble and governor of Babylon.

ources

Fox, Robin Lane, Alexander the Great, London (Allen Lane) 1973, ISBN 0-86007-707-1