Iamblichus (phylarch)

Iamblichus I (flourished 1st century BC - died 31 BC) was one of the phylarchs, or petty princes of the Arab tribe of the Emesenes^[1] in Emesa (now Homs, Syria). He was the son of Sampsiceramus I and is first mentioned by Marcus Tullius Cicero in a despatch, which he sent from Rome to Cilicia in 51 BC, and in which he states that lamblichus had sent him intelligence respecting the movements of the Parthians, and he speaks of him as well disposed to the republic.^[2]

In the war between Octavianus and Mark Antony in 31 BC, lamblichus supported the cause of the latter; but after Gnaeus Domitius had gone over to Octavianus, Antony became suspicious of treachery, and accordingly put lamblichus to death by torture, along with several others.^[3]

Antony's suspicions were apparently excited against lamblichus by his own brother Alexio I, who obtained the sovereignty after his brother's execution, but was shortly afterwards taken by Octavianus to Rome to grace his triumph, and then put to death.^[4] At a later period (20 BC) his son, Iamblichus II, obtained from Augustus the restoration of his father's dominions.^[5]

Footnotes & Reference

1. Strab. xvi. p. 753
2. Cic. ad Fam. xv. 1.
3. Dion Cass. 1.13.
4. Dion Cass. Ii. 2.
5. Dion Cass. liv. 9.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: William Smith (1870). "Iamblichus". In Smith, William. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology 2. p. 548.