Pygmalion of Tyre

Pygmalion (also known as Pumayyaton) was king of Tyre [The traditional king-list of Tyre is derived from Josephus, "Against Apion" i. 18, 21, and "Jewish Antiquities" viii. 5.3; 13.2. His list was based on Menander of Ephesus, who drew his information from the chronicles of Tyre. ( [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=256&letter=P "Jewish Encyclopedia": "Phenicia"] ).] from 820 to 774 BC ["...he lived fifty-six years, and reigned forty-seven years. Now in the seventh year of his reign, his sister fled away from him, and built the city Carthage in Libya." (Menander of Ephesus, quoted by Josephus, "Against Apion, i.18.).] and a son of King Mattan I (829-821 BC). [ [http://www.bartleby.com/67/109.html Stearns, Peter N., et al., "The Encyclopedia of World History." II.B.6. Pheonicia, 2001] ]

During Pygmalion's reign, Tyre seems to have shifted the heart of its trading empire from the Middle East to the Mediterranean, as can be judged from the building of new colonies including Kition on Cyprus and, according to tradition, Carthage. For the story surrounding the founding of Carthage, see Dido.

In Virgil's epic poem "The Aeneid", Pygmalion is the cruel-hearted brother of Dido who secretly kills Dido's husband Sychaeus because of his lust for gold.

In Dante's The Divine Comedy, Purgatorio, Canto XX, verses 103-105, Dante uses Virgil's version of Pygmalion to represent greed.

Notes

See also

* List of Kings of Tyre