Abdastartus

Abdastartus is the Latinized form of the Greek Abdastartos (Ἀβδάσταρτος), which itself derives from the Phoenician name ʿAbdʿashtart (𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤏𐤔𐤕𐤓𐤕). The name means "servant of Ashtoreth," composed of the Phoenician element ʿabd (𐤏𐤁𐤃) meaning "servant, slave" and the name of the goddess Ashtoreth (the Phoenician equivalent of the Canaanite goddess Astarte).

Historical Context

Abdastartus is known as a king of Tyre who reigned in the 10th century BC. The only surviving account of his life comes from the Phoenician historian Menander of Ephesus, as quoted by the Jewish historian Josephus in Against Apion i.18. According to this source, Abdastartus was the son of Baal-Eser I (also called Beleazarus) and the grandson of the famous Hiram I, who was a contemporary of King Solomon of Israel. Abdastartus succeeded his father and ruled for nine years, but his reign ended violently when four sons of his nurse conspired and assassinated him.

Etymology and Linguistic Notes

The name Abdastartus belongs to a common type of Phoenician theophoric names that express devotion to a deity, such as Abd al- in Arabic. The element ʿabd appears in many Phoenician names, including Abdmelqart ("servant of Melqart") and Abdastarte. The goddess Ashtoreth (Astarte) was a major deity in the Phoenician pantheon, associated with love, fertility, and war. The Greek form Abdastartos reflects the Hellenization of Phoenician names during the period of Greek influence in the eastern Mediterranean.

Notable Bearers

The only known bearer of this name is the aforementioned king of Tyre. His brief and tragic reign is recorded solely through Josephus's citation of Menander, making Abdastartus a figure of interest primarily in the study of Phoenician history and chronology. The dating of his reign is debated among scholars, but it is generally placed in the late 10th century BC, based on the regnal years of Hiram I and subsequent kings.

Related Names

The name is closely related to Abdastartos, the Greek transliteration, and shares its root with the goddess 'Ashtart. Variants in other languages include the Latinized Abdastartus and the Phoenician original ʿAbdʿashtart.

• Meaning: "Servant of Ashtoreth"
• Origin: Phoenician
• Type: Theophoric name
• Usage: Phoenician (historical)