Magas of Cyrene

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Magas of Cyrene (r. 276 - 250 BCE) was a Greek king of Cyrene (today's Libya). He managed to wrestle independence for Cyrene from the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. Magas was the son of Berenice and Philip, a Macedonian noble man, before Berenice remarried with the powerful Ptolemy I Soter, founder of the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt. Magas was a half-brother to their son, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the second Ptolemy ruler of Egypt.

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[edit] Reign

Magas received the governorship of Cyrene from his mother Berenice. Following the death of Ptolemy I, however, Magas tried on several occasions to wrestle independence for Cyrene, until he crowned himself king around 276 BCE.

Berenice II, was the daughter of Magas of Cyrene.
Berenice II, was the daughter of Magas of Cyrene.

Magas then married Apama, the daughter of the Seleucid Empire king Antiochus I Soter, and used his marital alliance to foment a pact to invade Egypt. Apama and Magas had a daughter called Berenice II, who was their only child. He opened hostilities against his half brother Ptolemy II Philadelphus in 274 BCE, attacking Egypt from the west, as Antiochus I was attacking Palestine. However, Magas had to cancel his operations due to an internal revolt of the Libyan nomad Marmaridae. In the east, Antiochus I suffered defeat against the armies of Ptolemy Philadelphus. Magas at least managed to maintain the independence of Cyrene until his death in 250 BCE, upon which the kingdom was almost immediately reabsorbed by Ptolemaic Egypt.

[edit] Relations with India

Magas is mentioned in the Edicts of Ashoka, as one of the recipients of the Indian Emperor Ashoka the Great's Buddhist prozelitism, although no Western historical record of this event remain[1] Ashoka also claims that he encouraged the development of herbalism, for men and animals, in the territories of the Hellenistic kings[2]

The philosopher Hegesias of Cyrene, from the city of Cyrene where Magas ruled, is sometimes thought to have been influenced by the teachings of Ashoka's Buddhist missionaries.[3]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "The conquest by Dharma has been won here, on the borders, and even six hundred yojanas (5,400-9,600 km) away, where the Greek king Antiochos rules, beyond there where the four kings named Ptolemy, Antigonos, Magas and Alexander rule, likewise in the south among the Cholas, the Pandyas, and as far as Tamraparni (Sri Lanka)." (Edicts of Ashoka, 13th Rock Edict, S. Dhammika).
  2. ^ "Everywhere within Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi's [Ashoka the Great] domain, and among the people beyond the borders, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Satiyaputras, the Keralaputras, as far as Tamraparni and where the Greek king Antiochos rules, and among the kings who are neighbors of Antiochos, everywhere has Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, made provision for two types of medical treatment: medical treatment for humans and medical treatment for animals. Wherever medical herbs suitable for humans or animals are not available, I have had them imported and grown. Wherever medical roots or fruits are not available I have had them imported and grown. Along roads I have had wells dug and trees planted for the benefit of humans and animals." Edicts of Ashoka, 2nd Rock Edict
  3. ^ "The philosopher Hegesias of Cyrene (nicknamed Peisithanatos, "The advocate of death") was contemporary of Magas and was probably influenced by the teachings of the Buddhist missionaries to Cyrene and Alexandria. His influence was such that he was ultimately prohibited to teach." Jean-Marie Lafont, INALCO in "Les Dossiers d'Archéologie", No254, p.78

[edit] See also

Magas of Cyrene
Died: 250 BC
Regnal titles
Recreated
Title last held by
Arcesilaus IV		 King of Cyrene
276 BC–250 BC		 Succeeded by
Demetrius