This book opens the ancient seals concerning the true story of the person Jesus Christ and

the
battles of ancient times in the land of his birth, before and after him. It is also a history of the Kings
of that region and the part they played in these times, especially the Kings of Commagene.

Philadelphus
Ancient History of Kings

In the time of the ancients, when the Pharaoh's ruled Egypt, the land was at peace. Each nation from
Babylon to Armenia and around it were amazed at the wonders and miracles their priests were able
to perform.

In those times came out of the land of Ur (next to Babylon) one called Abram. He loved his sister
Sarah. But she could not give him any children. The people of Babylon despised him because of his
refusal to worship idols and thew him into furnace, however the furnace was cool to him and he
emerged without a hair being singed. The family fled Babylon and ended up in Egypt at the court of
the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh was amazed at the beauty of Sarah and wanted her for himself. But
Abram said the Pharaoh could not take her because she was his sister. The Pharaoh was taken aback
at how close they were to each other. And God's wrath burned against the Egyptians for trying to
separate the two of them.

Not wanting to live in the land of Egypt, Isaac went with his father to the area around Canaan.
At this time the High priest Melchizedek and 12 kings built Jerusalem. Two of the Kings, Sodom
and Gomorrah were wicked, and Melchizedek and Abram set an agreement to fight them with all
their power. They came with a great army and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. And rescued
Abram's nephew Lot and his daughters. It is said that Lot married his daughters.

Seeing that Sarah could not have any children, she reluctantly gave him Hagar an Egyptian women
with whom he had Ismael. God came Abram in a dream and said to him that his descendants would
one day be as numerous as the stars in the sky for the faith and devotion he had shown God. From
that moment he should be known as Abraham. At that time God said to him that that all his children
and descendants should be circumcised, which he then did.
Rejecting the idols of the many different groups around him, that he felt were unable to represent
the true power of the ancients, he conceived to build a monument to God that would remain as a
symbol of his enduring beliefs to all nations, the Kaaba. Built together with his son Ismael to
worship the true God of creation in all its majesty.

Sarah was amazed to find that in her old age she would have a child with her brother, and the two
rejoiced greatly.
The child that was born was called Isaac. Abraham was then unsure weather this great child that
was born should not rather be sacrificed as a gift to God. But at the last minute God gave him a
simple ram to sacrifice, God said from Isaac a great nation were emerge. And Isaac praised his
father and mother as being like the sun and the moon.

At that time all the secrets of the ancients and spiritual worlds, seen and unseen, were kept by the
Egyptians. The art of mummification showed the great relevance accorded to the here-after and the
relationship between this world and the next. As well as all the records of the years stretching deep
into history and the secrets of magic they had learned and kept. Though others, like as the Persians
had their own records, it was the Egyptians who had understood and held on to this history
stretching back many years, according reports from Egypt at the time, as far as Atlantis, 13000
years ago.
Moses, for example, was a man of great power who was very well versed in the ancient magic of
the Egyptians. Using these power, such as the parting of the waters (know to be part of Egyptian
magic) to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Abraham and Sarah's grandson Isaac had two twin sons Esau and Jacob. The Egyptians had become
powerful and wealthy with many lands paying tribute to them. This is how Jacob, the son of Isaac
came to live in Egypt.

Jacob fell in love with Rachel the daughter of Laban, his uncle, and went to live with him. However
Laban tricked Jacob into marrying her sister Leah. Though he loved Leah and had many children
with her, he maintained his love for Rachel and promised to work to win her love. Though this was
a source of contention, he ultimately had a son with Rachel. The son, named Joseph was very
beautiful. But Laban had become unhappy with the new situation and Jacob decided to return to his
father Isaac's house, realising that Rachel was to have another child.
Before he arrived at his father and brother Esau, he was in great confusion as to what he had done.
All night he wrestled with a strange man over the issues of his family before finally overpowering
the man, the man touched his hip causing him to limp. He then revealed that he had been wrestling
with God himself. Jacob slept on a rock and dreamed that he was given a ladder to heaven, as is an
ancient Egyptian custom. Jacob realised that that a great nation had been created and that it should
be called Israel.
But now the brothers of Joseph were very jealous of him because of their fathers great love for
Joseph. So they agreed to abduct him and throw him in a pit. They went to their father and told him
Joseph had been eaten by wild animals and they showed him his coat which they had covered in
blood. Jacob was overcome with grief and wondered what would become of them.
Meanwhile Joseph had been discovered by traders on their way to Egypt who decided sell him into
slavery. This is how the land of Egypt was introduced to the great power of the children Abraham's
sister.

The Egyptians believing that their gods and customs did not permit them to mix with people that
were not of their own royal blood, maintained the customs of their religion. After the miracles of
Moses and the exodus of the Israelites, around 1500 BC, the Egyptians tried to reorganize their
religion. With Pharaoh's such as Akhenaten in 1336 BC, attempting to introduce the concept of one
God. Their was much confrontation between the priests as to the nature of their ancient powers and
weather their gods were capable of supporting them. However their customs and the depth of their
traditions prevented them from doing away with their gods.

The task of maintaining the ancient secrets of the one true God was left to Moses and the Israelites.
The Israelites armed with the tabernacle of their laws, the Ark of the Covenant, returned to the land
of Canaan as a great nation, determined to prove the power that has control over all creation. At first
the nations and tribes rejected the religion of the Israelites and fought against them. However the
Israelites were too strong and and ultimately took control under King David of the tribe of Judah
son of Jesse, a descendant of Lot's daughter.
The power of the Israelites was very great. And the nations heard of what the children of Jacob had
created. With King Solomon, the Kingdom reached great heights and their religion became even
more important to it's people, as they saw the truth of its practice. Solomon built the Temple on the
sacred spot of King Melchizedek's threshing floor, and placed the Ark within it, paying tribute to the
great King. Solomon's fame spread across the world, reaching the ear of the Queen of Sheba. She
traveled to Jerusalem to hear more about the God of the Israelites.
Solomon in his greatness, hopped for many sons with which he could convert those nations to his to
his faith. Yet through the 700 wives and 300 concubines, only three sons were born. God in his
wisdom chose only three children of Solomon to be sons and convert the nations of the earth. This
was because many other nations did not truly respect the God of the Israelites and wished Solomon
worship their gods and follow their practices. Solomon, however did not let his many wives turn
him away from his people. And his sons all became Kings under the God of Israel.

From the seed of Solomon rested the pearl of the Kings of the earth, which all nations desired.
Solomon's sons were: first Menelek, the son of the queen of Sheba, who inherited the Ark. Then
Rehoboam the son of another descendant of Lot's daughter, and the ancestor to the future Kings of
Israel.
And finally in his old age he was given a third son, to the daughter of a Greek King Zanbares,
descendant of the ancient Kings of Antioch, Tyre and Rome. This was done to seal up the miseries
of the Kings of the earth. As Solomon grew old, he worried what would happen to the nation of
Israel and his religion. The angel Gabriel came to him and assured him of the greatness of his sons
and that his third son would ultimately prove his name would always be remembered.
However what happened to the descendants of his youngest son were lost to history and erased
from the books of the Greeks and Romans on account of their unwillingness to accept the God of
the Israelites in their time.

But as the generations of Solomon ruled over the customs and beliefs of their forefathers in Israel.
They began to waiver from the worship of the one true God. The nation became split in two, with
many no longer paying allegiance to the Kings of Judah. The Kings of Rehoboam were hunted
down and murdered. Until there was just one child left, hidden away secretly from Jezebel who
sought him everywhere in order completely destroy the descendants of Rehoboam. At this time the
power of the prophet Elijah proved too great for Jezebel and the army of one called Jehu rose up
against her and killed her, restoring the King to his throne. The idols of foreign gods were
destroyed, yet the country continued to remained divided.
As the generations passed the idols returned. And soon the King was caught in a conundrum. He
could not seem to have a son of his own, and it seemed the line of Kings would die with him.
Despite the wickedness of his people at this time, he was granted a son in his last days, at which
point he rested with his fathers, satisfied that their throne would not be deserted. Yet his son was
more wicked than any of the Kings before him, returning to idols and showing no regard for the
ways of their great religion. When the prophet Isaiah confronted him on this, he had Isaiah split in
two from head to toe.

Soon the nations around Israel started to see the twisted ways of what the Israelites had become,
and that within them they had lost the meaning and direction of their religion. They heaped scorn on
them and vowed to overrun their country and expel them from it. King Nebuchadnezzar King of
Babylon swept into the land and destroyed the Temple of Solomon and carried the people away into
captivity. The Babylonians did not stop there, they then went on into Egypt, seeing the wickedness
of that nation too, they took away their priests and cut down their dynasty.
70 years passed in Babylon and control passed to the hands of Cyrus the Great of Persia. Under him
most of the region fell into Persian control. Egypt, Macedonia, Jerusalem and all the Kings around
the area of Armenia payed homage to him and his kingdom grew larger than any kingdom before it.
But his heart remembered the religion of King Solomon and he looked for a way to save it.
Amongst those Jews that still lived in captivity in Babylon were the two sisters of the exiled King
of Israel. Cyrus loved these sisters and they appealed to him to let their people return to Jerusalem
and restore the Temple. On account of his love for them and having respect for their traditions, he
agreed to allow the Israelites to return. The blood of Cyrus would soon find its way into the very
genealogy of future kings of Israel, the forefathers of Jesus, who is Christ.

The rule of the Persians continued under Darius I, who married Cyrus's daughters, linking himself
to the royal blood line of the Persians and extending their rule into Greece. However the Greeks,
angry at the sacking of Athens and eager to assert their dominance raged war against the Persians.
Alexander the Great rose up in Macedonia with a great army to destroy Xerxes the son of Darius.
As the Persians were pushed back, the different Kings of the region, who were traditional allies of
Darius, deserted the Persians and set up new alliances with Alexander. After the death of Alexander,
a great territory was left in the hands of the Greeks.

There was no clear successor to Alexander. His generals disputed amongst themselves. Alexander
had conquered all of Persian territory and the area was quite vast, each with their own laws,
customs and Kings. But in taking Egypt, Alexander had killed a great many in his zeal to conquer
the country, against the wishes of his father. The Egyptians rejected Alexanders generals, choosing
alliances among them that would see their country returned to them. One of these generals,
Seleucus I Nicator, having great sympathy towards Egyptian religion made a deal with Ptolemy I.
The two of them then defeated the remaining generals and split the empire between them. Ptolemy
taking Egypt and Seleucus I Nicator taking the rest of what once was the Persian Empire, with
Macedonia returning into Greece. Due to the nature of these rulers, the entire region became
Hellenized, adopting Greek gods, and merging them with their own. During this time came
Seleucus II Callinicus, who ruled the Seleucid Empire from Jerusalem to the borders of
Afghanistan, he built the city of Kallinicos, not far from ancient Babylon, making it his capital. But
as time passed tensions started to arise between Egypt and the Seleucid's resulting in many battles
and disputes, yet a gradual merging to the ancient customs and religions took place.

During this time the Jews, seeing the cracks in the Seleucid Empire, started to attempt to assert their
independence in their territory. The new ruler of the Seleucids was Antiochus IV Epiphanes (not to
be confused with Antiochus IV of Commagene years later, very confusing but keep in mind the
lineage that was passed down from the great kings). He cared little for the beliefs of the Jews and
attempted to root out their religion. After a revolt in Jerusalem, Epiphanes turned his attention away
from Egypt where he was waging war, and headed strait for Jerusalem, killing many Jews who
resisted him. He entered the holly Temple of Solomon removing many of its treasures and set up a
statue of Apollo, as well as himself inside the Temple, he was proclaimed 'god manifest' on his
coins minted during his time as ruler over Jerusalem. This was a great sacrilege to the Jewish people
who continued a resistance which would eventually lead to the overthrow of the Seleucids in
Jerusalem and start a new independent Hasmonean dynasty of Kings of Israel and the restoration of
Jewish law. Upon the death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 164BC, King Ptolemaes of Commagene
declared the independent Kingdom of Commagene.

It was not long after this a new power began to arise in the region that would remain the dominant
force for hundreds of years to come. 200 years of Seleucid rule was coming to an end. The Romans
defeated the Seleucid's in battle, thus crushing the old empire, and leaving a series of small
independent kingdoms, many of which had to slowly give allegiance to the indisputable might of
the new Empire. Under this pressure the Israelites, Egyptians and others attempted to maintain their
independence and traditions.

Now the Egyptians under the Ptolemaic dynasty had greatly increased the cult of marring their
relatives. Something that had emerged to become an intricate part of their religion. Each generation
reinforcing the blood line of the previous generations, often marring their sisters or other close
relatives. Leaving rulers such as Cleopatra VII with very few grandparents and great grandparents.
This custom had become very fashionable in these times and became increasingly part the alliances
that made up the royal families of the region. The Romans not familiar with these traditions tried
not to look down on them but rather admired their ability to maintain these practices generation
after generation.

Cleopatra VII however saw that these customs were being artificially maintained, not for the sake of
love between two people, but as a royal duty. The Pharaoh's were staring to loose the legitimacy of
their rule they had maintained for thousands of years. Not wishing to marry her brother, who was
quite her junior, she arranged to visit the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar in the hopes that she could
form an alliance with him, and preserve her Kingdom. This worked very well. The Roman Senate
however was not happy with the direction Julius Caesar was taking, and conspired to have him and
his son with Cleopatra murdered. Cleopatra in great distress, turned to his ally and friend Marc
Antony to defend her interests and shape the future definition of the Empire. Marc Antony during
this time made numerous appointments to government in the region that he hoped would serve him
in the future and strengthen the Empire in the long run. The Emperors that would come after him
would rely on his appointments as the basis for their rule. Cleopatra received the King of Arabia
with great splendour at her place. Herod the Great (who would become King of Judea) also tried to
make alliances with certain Arab Kings. Cleopatra got Antony to have Herod arrested and put in
prison. The senate in Rome started to become concerned the Persians also were making an alliance
with Cleopatra, Marc Antony rushed to Rome to try reconcile the situation. However his enemies
caught up with him killed him in battle, Cleopatra committed suicide to avoid capture.

With no one in the region able to avoid the growing power and influence of Rome, it all began to
fall under their control. In Judea Herod the Great was set up as ruler over the Judea. Though Herod
was not Jewish by decent, he had converted to Judaism under the influence of the Hasmoneans,
who had encouraged the practice in order to win friends among neighbours.

In order to gain legitimacy Herod had married the last of the Hasmonean queens, Miriam. To
underline his right to rule, he killed off Miriam's brother Aristobulus a great rival to the throne,
friend of Cleopatra and fighter for Jewish independence. This upset Miriam who became cold and
hostile to him, though she was not able to leave him, as this was unheard of during this time. Herod
began to mistrust Miriam and decided, even though he loved her greatly, to have her murdered. He
then murdered their two sons, who he accused of plotting against him. The grandchildren of Miriam
however would continue to play an important role in the new generation of Jewish Kings. Seeing
that Herod was making a mockery of ancient customs, many opposed Herod. But his respect for the
laws and his strengthening the structures of the Temple and other buildings around Jerusalem
assured his position.

With the collapse of the ancient Egyptian Pharaohs and the growing confusion as to the meaning
and customs of their ancestors, many alliances were forged in order to re-establish their traditions.
As part of this, King Artavasdes of Media, on the boarder with Persia where Romans were
powerless to get to, agreed to give his daughter, Iotapi, to Antony and Cleopatra's son, who was
attempting to strengthen his position in Egypt. However he was soon assassinated by a rivals in
Rome. Iotapi, the daughter of the Median King had grown close to Antony's son was forced to flee
before the marriage was consummated. Returning back to her region. She then turned to her first
cousin Mithridates II King of Commagene, just over the other side of mount Ararat, close to Media.
Up till this time the Romans had not extended their reach this far east, and these Kingdoms
maintained their independence.
The Kings of Commagene had within their linage many of the great Kings of the past including
Darius, Selekus Nicator Antiochus and Ptolomy. Once allies of Persia they had switched sides when
Alexander swept through the region and had adopted Greek culture and language as a result.
Through this union of ancient Kings together with the Kings of Media came a great power to these
small nations. Their son Antiochus III Epiphanes, King of Commagene , who began his rule in
12BC.

At this time there was great turmoil on the earth and signs and prophesies were told of a King that
would one day come to rule the whole world. The Persians foretold that this King would be born
around Jerusalem according to ancient predictions. They gathered together their wise men, of which
there were 12, and set out to greet the new King, following a star that was so bright it could be seen
during the day.
Herod having heard that a King was to be born, sought to slain him immediately least he become a
threat. He imprisoned a member of each Jewish family in the hope of finding the child. The Persian
wise men arrived in Judea and went to Herod to discuss the matter. At which Herod encouraged
them to find the boy and bring him into captivity. The Persians set off to follow the star. Upon their
arrival in Bethlehem, expecting to see the little boy on a throne in a palace, were surprised to find
Jesus in a manger dressed in swaddling cloths. Their parents were amazed at the little boy and were
completely overwhelmed. The wise men presented the traditional gifts of gold, frankincense and
mire. His parents were hoping for something to eat but accepted the gifts with joy. As the wise men
beheld the boy they realised there was no way they could tell Herod, and set off on their way strait
back to Persia.
Herod was outraged that the child could not be found and decided to slay those Jews that he had put
in prison. The family of Marry and Joseph decided to flee to Egypt.
On their arrival in Egypt, the idols of the Egyptian gods started shake and crumble, others were
reported to speak. As their idols crumbled before them, the Egyptians swore that they would create
a new idol, greater than any of their gods that came before.

Now the linage of Jesus, who is Christ, came from the Kings of Solomon. His parents were first
cousins who's fathers were twin brothers, Joseph's father being Jacob and Mary's father Yonakhir.
Their father being Mattan. Mary and Joseph loved each other with a love that seemed beyond any
love before it, but Mary was still young and under the guardianship of her uncle Zachariah. One day
the angel Gabriel came to Mary in a dream and said she was to have a child. 'How can this be' she
replied since she was still a virgin. Soon it came to pass, and Mary was very confused that such a
thing could happen. But the angel comforted her and gave her strength while she slept.
This was an event that would change the course of all human history, and start the creation of the
world anew. Like the spark that set off the first single celled creature, evolved from nothing before
it.

But it was not just Jesus who was born during this time, many miraculous children of his generation
were born too, though their stories have been hidden away and the truth about what happened
during those times has been forgotten. Too amazing to the people who came afterwards to be
recored and written out of history. Least those that were guilty of wrong-doing in those times and
afterwards were exposed for what they had done. And the true story would come to light. Yet the
record of these events were recorded in the faithful witnesses of these times such as Josephus and
others, under the rod of Roman censers and the influence of their vested interests. The events that
followed were simply too great to be swept away.

Around about the time of Christ's birth their came another birth, in Commagene to Antiochus III
and his full blooded sister Iotopi. Their parents were amazed at the miraculous birth of their son and
grew closer to their religion, in which they believed the moon and sun were brother and sister
engaged in a passionate love affair. They wondered what would happen to their son.
One year later the same thing happened to another young brother and sister in the nearby Kingdom
of Adiabene bordering Media. The destiny of these two Kings would prove to be very different yet
both played a role in attempting to prevent the terrible series of events that unfolded in the wake of
Jesus crucifixion and the uprising against Rome that followed. And it seems to me to be God's
blessings upon the earth, and showed the tremendous piousness of individuals at a time great
change and destruction. It is a story that was left untold for millennia, forgotten in the confusion and
great persecution of those that came afterwards. Yet within this story is the answers as to why great
calamities fell upon the earth that, to this day, have never been resolved. These are the men and
women that waited patiently for mankind to understand their purpose. Knowing that the day will
come when the reasons for all these things will be revealed.

In the year 0 CE, Antiochus IV of Commagene was born. His parents knew that the Roman
province of Syria was right on their border. Aware that there was no power in the region strong
enough to challenge this mighty empire in their time, they sought to make alliances with the
Romans in order to maintain their independence. This uneasy situation continued until the year 17
when his father Antiochus III died. The Romans seized this opportunity to press the citizens of
Commagene to decide it was the time for them to become part of the Roman empire. The young
Antiochus together with his sister were the last in the line of Kings. Many people wanted the
country to maintain its independence, it was decided that they should ask the Emperor what was the
best course of action. The Emperor Tiberius consulted with his advisers and decided that the
Kingdom should be ruled directly from Rome.
The young King together with his mother and sister were taken to Rome, as subjects of the Roman
Empire. They were paraded around the city and introduced to important and influential members of
Roman society. They were soon found themselves part of the court of Antonia the younger the
daughter of Marc Antony and his first wife Octavia.
Antonia was the paternal grandmother of future emperor Caligula and intricate part of the family of
Roman Emperors. From her mother's brother Emperor Augustus to her sister's husband Emperor
Tiberius, she was also great aunt to Emperor Nero. She was well respected by all in Roman society
and known for her beauty. In her court the affairs of state and borders of the Empire were discussed.

At this time Jesus was still in Egypt growing up as a man steeped in Jewish learning and the
wisdom of the ancients. He was also aware of the spiritual powers held by the Egyptians, their
knowledge of the dead, and the relationship with the living.
The circumstances of his pure birth and his continued adherence to his sacred gospel prevented him
from having any relations with women. He was seen as a master and saviour above all earthly
needs.
His younger brothers and sisters well understood this and constructed their families around this
sacred bond. Jesus brother Theddaeus (known as Jude the Apostle) married Mary's sister. In the year
30 they decided to move back to Jerusalem. He was greeted with great cheers of joy from the
people of the city. But he soon earned the ire of those in charge of the nation and their religious
leaders, who saw his teachings as a threat to their authority. His teachings were too much to bare.
They enlisted Judas Iscariot to arrange for him to be arrested. The Jewish authorities themselves
were ambivalent about what to do about him. Knowing the importance of his teachings to his
disciples, and respecting linage of his authority they decided to ask the Roman governor Pontius
Pilate to decide on his fate. Pilate being weak and not wanting to cause a confrontation with the
priests of Israel, keepers of of the Holly Temple of Solomon, decided to give in to their requests for
crucifixion. Jesus was abused, mocked and spat on. The people were turned against him. They
showed him no kindness as he hung on the cross, giving him nothing but a sponge to taste.

Once they were sure he was dead they took him down to a quiet tomb that his beloved friends had
prepared for him. There in the depths of the underworld, where his people had sent him, his spirit
battled with the gates of the afterlife, until the power of his spirit overcame the keepers of the
underworld and his soul returned to the body. Hell was smashed to pieces, utterly destroyed. It was
simply unable to contain him, despite its mighty strength.
Mean while Antiochus and his sister were trying to adjust to life away from their homeland. They
had pledged their love to each other as they could see no alternative in the Roman way of life, and
were aware of the many transgressions of common people and the distortions of their ancient
traditions and beliefs. The two of them having both the same grandparents, yet not being able to
separate each others love and devotion. At this point they realised their son Julius Archelaus
Antiochus Epiphanes was to be born, a wonder to the Romans who marvelled at the blood line of
Antiochus.
The world of their times seemed to be at the edge of destruction that threatened to engulf
everything, the very meaning of their great and ancient beliefs. As Jesus was inseparable to the
eternal God, yet not able to have children of his own, able to overcome the barriers of the spirit of
death and creation, so the spirit entered into Antiochus and his sister. And there was war between
this world and the next.

Now at the same time as Antiochus was born, in the year 1 CE, a similar story of love and devotion
between brother and sister occurred in a land not far from Commagene, beyond the reach of the
Romans in the land of Adiabene, on the border with Persia. Monabaz I was the king of that land and
although he had wives and children, he loved his sister Helena more than anyone else. One day
Monobaz realised the belly of his sister was with child. He told her, and she was amazed at the boy
Izates that was to be born. She rejoiced in prophesy that his his life would be happy and fruitful.
Although they had another son, Monobaz II, it was Izates who was the most beloved of all his
fathers children especially on account of his great beauty.
The King was getting old and pledged to give his kingdom to his son Izates, but this had to gain the
consent of his older brothers. After their fathers death Helena gathered them together to discuss
their fathers wish that Izates should rule on their behalf. After consulting with them and the people,
it was agreed that the eldest son would rule at first, but he would eventually hand the kingdom over
to his brother. This they all agreed on. As time passed they knew that their brother Izates must be
given the kingdom to rule, when the time came his brother shook his hand (as is the ancient custom)
and agreed to hand the kingdom over to him.
Izates soon took over the kingdom and began to rule wisely and gain many allies.
Yet there was something that consumed his heart. He began reading the books of Moses and
observing Jewish laws. Together with his mother he agreed to observe these laws and traditions but
not to get circumcised, as it was not the custom of their culture.
Now there was a Jewish teacher that lived with him in the court and saw his continual reading of
these ancient books. One day he said to Izates that if he continued to read those verses he should
immediately get circumcised. Izates agreed and sent for the surgeon who circumcised him there and
then. This was in the year 30 CE, the year Jesus moved back to Jerusalem from Egypt.
When her told his mother that he had been circumcised, she was very upset and wondered what her
son had done. But as time passed and she saw how much his people loved him, and she dew closer
to his faith. Together they went to Jerusalem and presented gifts to the Temple and the people of
Jerusalem.
At this time the Kings of the nations around Adiabene began to think of mobilizing a force to attack
the Romans and drive them away from their region. Izates refused to join this effort saying it would
be madness to attack such a mighty power without hope of success. They eventually agreed and
decided not to attack the Roman. But the Persians were grumbling against Izates on account of his
Jewish faith and assembled an army of Arabs and Persians to attack Izates. However on their march
to his capital the power of God consumed them and they agreed to let Izates keep his kingdom. In
all, Izates had 24 sons and 24 daughters, when he died in the year 55 CE, he together with his
mother, were buried in Jerusalem.

Now back in Rome Antiochus and his sister had gained renewed respect and admiration of the
citizens of Rome. When young Caligula succeeded to the the throne of Emperor in 37 CE, he
decided to return the Kingdom of Commagene to Antiochus and his family and send them back to
the land of their birth, with 1 million silver coins to take with them. On condition that they remain
loyal to the Roman Empire. There two more children were born to them, Callinicus and Itopi.
At this time the young Julius Archelaus Antiochus was agreed to marry Miriam and Drusilla, the
two younger daughters of Agrippa I, King of Judea. (Keep in mind that these names were given by
Roman authorities to represent their status in the Roman Empire)
Agrippa was the grandchild of Miriam, the last Hasmonean queen, and Herod the Great. He had
grown up in Rome and and was greeted with great excitement in Jerusalem when he was appointed
King. Unlike other members of his family he had not indulged in the great transgressions of his
grandfather and brother Herod II, and was seen a good choice to lead his people. Agrippa had 4
children: Agrippa II and three daughters, Berenice, Miriam and Drusilla. Yet many in Judea still
remained hostile to what they saw as Roman appointed Kings.
Berenice was pledged to her father's brother, with whom she had two sons. Agrippa being a man
who observed the laws carefully and maintained the Temple treasures. Seeing that Julius Archelaus
was a righteous person, that could restore the fortunes of the Jews, was keen to convert Julius to his
religion. And so pledged his daughters to him. But his daughters were still young, and he had not
had a chance to see them marry before he died.

Upon the death of Agrippa I in 44 CE, citizens of Caesarea and Sebaste set upon his place and
snatched the two young daughters of Agrippa I, who were just 10 and 6 at the time. Julius was not
much older. The soldiers took the girls and performed all kinds of lewd acts with them in high
places and in the streets, and abused them with a great power in an attempt to undermine Julius. The
Emperor was called to rescue the girls but was unable to get to them until a new Emperor came to
power and mounted a force to return them home. It was left to Agrippa II to try rescue the situation
for Julius. Agrippa II was by this stage started having a relationship with his sister Berenice, who's
husband, had died. He now demanded that Julius get circumcised before proceeding with the
weddings. Julius however seeing that the girls had been violated in such a way, and at the same time
remembering the gods of his fathers, the Greeks and Persians, refused to be circumcised. Agrippa II
called off the wedding on this account.
Miriam, however still went on to marry Julius, with whom she had a daughter, also called Berenice.
They later divorced and she married Demetrius, a Jew from Alexandria.

Drusilla was pledged to Gaius Julius Aziziu King of Emesa, Julius Archelaus's cousin, who was
prepared to be circumcised. Despite the trauma of her childhood Drusilla became an exceptionally
beautiful young women. And was desired by many men. Felix, the Roman governor, attempted to
persuade Drusilla, a descendant of the Hasmonean line of Kings, to desert her husband. Despite the
fact that he had joined the Jewish faith on her account, and marry an uncircumcised Roman
governor. Felix won her ear and told her that she would not be happy without him. This angered the
Jewish traditions and was seen as very much against the laws of her people. Drusilla ultimately, was
caught up in the eruption of mount Vesuvius in the year 79 CE in Pompeii, killing her and her son.
Felix then remarried.

Julius Archelaus Antiochus unsure at the events of his failed attempt to reconcile himself with the
Jewish faith. Turned to a new wife of Greek Egyptian extraction, named Claudia Capitolia, who's
father was Tiberius Claudius Balbilus fom Alexandria, whom he married in 64. He then returned to
his father Antiochus, brother Callinicus and sister Iotopi, in the Commagene capital of Samasota,
where their son Pilopappos was born.

At this point Roman world was consumed with deceit and antagonism. The Jewish people finally
rebelled against their Roman masters and anti-Roman sentiment was whipped up against Agrippa II
and Berenice (who had decided not to get married). They tried to plead with their people not to
make war against the Romans but they were not listened to. The Jewish people were split, with no
one able to take control. The Romans on the other hand had become consumed with the decadence
and corruption that a succession of Emperors had indulged in. Democracy had become a thing of
the past, and there was continued discrimination against the Jews, with Greeks being favoured for
promotion to important positions. Yet despite this many Jews had become quite rich and the Temple
was loaded with riches, it was a great attraction with Agrippa II setting up an vantage point were he
could recline of couches and observe the Holy Temple.

Now Emperor Tiberius assembled an vast army to siege certain provinces and push on till Jerusalem
to take back the city. Julius and his cousin were expected to add support. But the Emperor had his
own ideas as to what he wanted to do, something that would shock all his allies and destroy the very
fabric of their ancient society.

Josephus a Jewish citizen of Jerusalem, would survive the calamities that then befell the city to tell
the official version of the new Emperor Vespasian, an extensive account of these events from a first
hand perceptive. The Roman, seeing that the Jews would never surrender the city, attacked
mercilessly. Many people surrounded the Temple to try any protect it, the Roman soldiers pushed
through burning the Temple and uprooting the walls, killing all those people caught up in middle.
With everyone in the Temple and surrounding city being slaughtered. And the Temple ran with
blood.
It had stood for 639 years since the time of Cyrus the Great, and 1130 years since the time the first
Temple was built by King Solomon. 2170 years since being first built by King Melchizedek.

They then pushed on to drive the Jews out, forcing 40 000 loyal Jews to commit suicide at Masada
to avoid capture. It is estimated that after the destruction of the Temple of Solomon in around 70
CE, and the total destruction of Jerusalem, 1.1 million Jews were killed. The greatest war ever
fought till that time. A once beautiful city was completely raised to the ground all the trees and
buildings were cut down. The only things standing were one wall of the Temple and three minarets
built by Herod, one to his wife Miriam. These can still be found in Jerusalem today. Many more
were forced into exile in far flung corners of the Empire and the Jewish people were left
demoralised and without any meaningful leaders to guide the people out of this calamity.

Not long after this in 72 CE, Antiochus IV together with his son Julius and his family were accused
of being disloyal to the Emperor. The Romans at once set a force to confront Antiochus. Fearing the
might of the Roman army, he fled to a nearby kingdom while his sons prepared to stay and fight.
Upon seeing the vast legions of Roman soldiers they faced, the two brothers put up little resistance
before deciding to attempt to flee to Persia. They did not get far when the Romans caught up with
them. Antiochus IV was also captured and the family were again taken back to Rome where
Antiochus pleaded with the Emperor, saying that the accusations levelled against them were totally
untrue.
The Emperor having respect for the alliances forged between the Romans and the Kings of
Commagene, decided to grant the family a good subsistence to live off in Rome, where Antiochus
IV died. The kingdom of Commagene was incorporated into the Roman province of Syria and the
family of Antiochus would never return to the area of their birth. Eventually settling in Athens,
Greece where the the son of Julius Archelaus: Philipaphos, and his sister Julia Balbilla, who was
born in Rome, became respected members of Athenian society.

To this day, there still stands in Athens, a memorial to Philopappos constructed by his sister Julia
Balbilla and citizens of Athens. Its proximity to the acropolis, and it being built on the site of the
grave of a famous Greek prophet of his time, Musaeus, is testimony to the high regard Philopappos
had earned from the people of Athens.
Apart from the poetry of Julia Balbilla, nothing more is known about the remarkable life of
Antiochus IV and his family. Julius Archelaus died in Athens in 92 CE.
The great war the Romans waged against the Jews did not end there. With great loss of blood of
Roman soldiers and treasure of the Empire. They showed no mercy to the ancient customs and
beliefs of the Jews. Christians especially, were persecuted even more with many being martyred
throughout the Empire. Future Emperors sparing very few of the original leaders in their attempt to
stop the teachings of Jesus penetrating deep into Roman society.

The Jews again rose up against the Romans around 140 CE in a vain attempt to take back what
remained of the Temple. Emperor Hadrian refused to allow them to rebuild it. This time there was
no mercy for the Jewish people. The Romans were determined to wipe the religion of the Jews off
the face of the earth. They burned what remained of the sacred scrolls of their records together with
the priests, with great acts of cruelty. They then expelled all the Jews from Jerusalem and the
surrounding areas, confining them to distant parts of the Empire. It was in this atmosphere that the
descendants of Mary's sister who were at this this point still living hear Jerusalem were all executed.
The province was renamed Palestine, after the Philistines, the traditional enemies of the Jewish
people. None but a handful of Jews remained. In all 580 000 Jews were killed in this final rebellion.
The records of their tribes and linage of Kings leading up to Jesus were all destroyed.

In the year 240 CE there were new attempts to challenge the Romans. Zenobia Queen of Palmayra,
also known as Julia, was a descendant of Antiochus III of the Commagene through the royal family
of Emessa, Anthony and Cleopatra, and the Arab tribes of Palmyra, as well as a supporter of
Christian Bishop Paul of Samasota (former capital of Commagne) and possibly Jewish as well. She
was originaly of the family of King Juba II of Mauretania (North Africa).
Originally Zenobia was the second wife of the King of Palmyra. When he was murdered, she
assumed power. She then conquered Egypt setting up her place in Alexandria. She drove the
Romans out of Palestine and Syria. Splitting the entire Empire up for 13 years, until she was
defeated and taken to Rome where she was executed.

In the year 325 CE the Emperor Constantine the Great perceiving the value of the teachings of
Jesus and how they had spread across his by now vast Empire, reconciled with this faith. After
numerous attempts by previous Emperors to suppress Christ's teachings, and murdering a great
many Christians, the Empire agreed to adopt the religion.

However responding to the great depth of understanding of the meaning and teachings of Jesus by
his devoted follower such as Arius of Alexandria. Perceiving that teachers of Jesus had come to
understand that his teachings were placed within the Jewish faith, as a man of God. And seeing how
dangerous his teachings were. Constantine convened a gathering of all branches of the faith
throughout the Empire and convinced them on pain of death, to declare Jesus 'God' himself. Arius
tried to resist this new doctrine of Constantine by arguing that God had existed before Jesus birth
and was thus separate to Jesus in substance. He was ultimately called to Constantinople,
Constantine's new capital, and there murdered at the back of a church. From then on anyone who
disputed any doctrine not sanctioned by the Emperor faced great persecution and eventual death.
Anyone who was found to possess documents sympathetic to the teachings of Arius and did not
throw them into the fire immediately, were put to death. Ultimately all original documents written
by his disciples were burned. The leaders of the church tried to resist this new distortion of Jesus
message, but were unwilling to give up their positions within the church hierarchy, which by now
was completely dependant on the Emperor for the maintenance of their religion. All the original
books about the works of Jesus were destroyed or rewritten according to the new ideology of the
supreme deity of Jesus. Thus changing the message of his teachings and maintaining the practice of
idol worship, through the new idol, in the shape of Jesus Christ.

In the year 571CE war between Roman (called the Byzantine Empire since 395 CE) and the Persian
dynasty broke out. Khosrau II, the Shah of Persia swept across the region taking Syria and
Palestine. Byzantine forces were unable to resist Persians, but as the war raged on the Arab Kings
refused to take sides. Khosrau II having 3000 women in his harem, made a deal with the Emperor
for his daughter in exchange for peace. But his rivals in Constantinople, determined to take back
territory from the Persians, killed the Emperor and his sons and resumed the war. This continued for
25 years until both sides were drained, leaving it open to a much greater power in Arabia.

The Jews were not allowed to return to Jerusalem up to the point the new religion of Islam took the
city in 691 CE.

Thus ended the ancient history of Kings.

'One who seeks, also reveals'

Jesus
Map of the region containing Commagene (Kommagene), Adiabene, Media and Judea.
Emessa was part of the Syrian province
List of Kings of Commagene

163- 130 BC King Ptolemaes of Commagene

Declared the independent Kingdom in 163 BC following collapse of Seleucid Empire.
(Descendant of Darius I)

130- 109 BC King Sames II Theosebes Dikalos of Commagene

(wife Princess Pythadoris of Pontus)

109- 70 BC King Mithridates I Callinicus of Commagene

(wife Laodice VII Thea of the Seleucid Empire)

70- 36 BC King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene

(wife Princess Isias Philostorgos of Cappadocia)

36- 20 BC Mithridates II of Commagene

(wife Laodice)

20-12BC Mithridates III of Commagene

(wife and first cousin Iotapi daughter of Artavasdes I of Media)

12BC- 17AD Antiochus III Epiphanes of Commagene

(wife sister Iotopi)

38- 72 AD Antiochus IV of Commagene

(wife sister Iotopi, known say Julia)

This ended the Kings of Commagene

The children of Antiochus IV: Gaius Julius Archelaus Antiochus Epiphanes

Gaius Julius Mithridates Callinicos
Iotapi

Julius Archelaus Epiphanes (married Mariam daughter of King Agrippa 50 AD): Berenice
(married Claudia Capitolina 64 AD) : Philopappos
Julia Balbilla
Monument to Philopappos built by his sister Julia Balbilla and the citizens of Athens.
Poetry of Julia Balbilla
(Memnon was an Ethiopian prince who brought an army to fight on the side of King Priam of
Troy, he was killed by Achilles. Prompting Zeus to give him immortality. Hadrian being the
Emperor of her time)

When the August Hadrian heard Memnon.

by Julia Balbilla

Memnon the Egyptian I learnt, when warned by the rays of the sun,
Speaks from Theban stone.
When he saw Hadrian, the king of all, before rays of the sun
He greeted him - as far as he was able.
But when the Titan driving through the heavens with his steeds of white
Brought into shadow the second measure of hours,
Like ringing bronze Memnon again sent out his voice
Sharp-toned; he sent out his greeting and for a third time a mighty-roar.
The Emperor Hadrian then himself bid welcome to
Memnon and left on stone for generations to come
this inscription recounting all that he saw and all that he heard.
It was clear to all that the gods love him.

When with the August Sabina I stood before Memnon

Memnon, son of Aurors and holy Tithon,

seated before Thebes, city of Zeus,
Or Amenoth, Egyptian King, as learned
Priests recount from ancient stories,
Greetings, and singing, welcome her kindly,
The august wife of the Emperor Hadrian.
A barbarian man cut off your tongue and ears,
Impious Cambyses; but he paid the penalty,
With a wretched death struck by the same sword point
With which pitiless he slew the divine Apis.
But I do not believe that this statue of yours will perish,
I saved your immortal spirit forever with my mind.
For my parents were noble, and my grandfathers,
The wise Balbillus and Antiochus the king.

Generations before the Christian era. The Kings of Commagene built their sanctuary at mount
Nemrut. In modern day Turkey. As the descendants of the Great Kings of the Seleucid Empire.
Mount Nemrut

Image Credit Flickr User Klearchos Kapoutsis

The Adiyaman Province of Turkey in the south east of the country

is not wealthy – it is still classified as a developing rural region.
Yet 25 miles from the small town of Kâhta the visitor discovers
the remnants of once fabulous wealth. High on the summit of
Mount Nemrut is a huge but little visited necropolis, home to the
beheaded gods of the past.
Image Credit Flickr User birasuegi
 Image Credit Flickr USer sly06
Sixty two years before the birth of Christ, King Antiochus I ordered a huge tomb come sanctuary to
be built for himself. His place of burial was flanked by huge statues – one of himself but others of
animals.
Image Credit Flickr User DamianHR
 Image Credit Flickr User birasuegi
There were also gods – a syncretism of Iranian, Armenian and Greek which testify to the cultural
mix of the area two thousand years ago. Hercules is there, as is Zeus, Tyche and Apollo. Their
names were inscribed upon them – those Greek ones we recognize from books and movies as well
as their Iranian and Armenian counterparts – Vahagn, Aramazd and Ahura Mazda.
 Image Credit Flickr User reibei

Image Credit Flickr User DamienHR

Antiochus was half Armenian and half Greek – another reason why his tomb reflects more than just
a single culture. This area was a true cross-road of peoples but there was but a single enemy at the
time – the Romans. Antiochus managed to keep his kingdom of Commagene independent, even
while many Anatolian territories were being annexed. The enemy became a treasured ally.
 Image Credit Flickr User sly06

Image Credit Flickr User borderl

Antiochus was already part of a dynasty but he wanted to see this preserved. So he created a royal
cult and his tomb was built in order for his vassals to worship him after his death. A Greek
inscription reveals that he was buried here at the roof of his world as a sign of his parity with the
gods.
 Image Credit Flickr User Klearchos Kapoutsis

Image Credit Flickr User birasuegi

The complex on Mount Nemrut (or Nemrut Dagi as it is locally known) was built so that many
religious festivals could be held there. He commanded that his birthday should be celebrated on the
16th of each and every month and his coronation celebrated likewise on the 10th. To afford this he
bought up wealth generating estates and properties which were legally bound to the sites.
Image Credit Flickr User Klearchos Kapoustis

Image Credit Flickr User Marcel Oosterwijk

He put in charge whole families with a vested interest in keeping this particular status quo. The
priests of the tomb complex were to instruct their sons in administering the estates and so ensure
that these celebrations would last in perpetuity. Or so Antiochus imagined.

/a>
Image Credit Flickr User Klearchos Kapoutsis
Yet times change and at some point in the history there was a collective effort to demolish the
statues – to bring down the gods of old. All of the statues have been decapitated – their heads
roughly removed from their bodies. Archaeologists placed them upright but have not attempted to
re-attach the head to the bodies. So, their dismembered heads lie where they fell.

Image Credit Flickr User jetske19

Image Credit Flickr User Klearchos Kapoutsis

Over the centuries people forgot about Antiochus’ tomb. Then in 1883 an engineer from Germany,
Charles Sester, was assessing transport routes for the Ottoman Empire. He discovered more than he
had bargained for. As he and his team dug they rediscovered the beheaded gods for the world.
Image Credit Flickr User Klearchos Kapoutsis

Image Credit Flickr User Klearchos Kapoutsis

 Image Credit Flickr User Klearchos Kapoutsis
We know that the damage was intentional as there is a pattern to it, particularly their noses. When
and exactly why it was done is lost to history. The area is under snow for several months a year and
so the statues have naturally weathered too, making it difficult to ascertain when injury came to the
gods of Mount Nemrut.

Image Credit Flickr User DamienHR

 Image Credit Flickr User DamienHR
Yet despite the distance from their bodies the heads of these gods are still magnificent and their
divinely icy stares still demand something – if not worship then certainly awe. The ruins of the
tomb-sanctuary of Antiochus are magnificent to behold even today.

Image Credit Wikimedia

Image Credit Wikimedi a
The names of the 12 kings who built Jerusalem as written the the book 'Book of Cave Treasures'
by Syrian priest Ephram Syrus in the 4th century

Abimelech, king of Gâdhâr.

Âmarphîl, (Amraphel), king of Sen`âr.
Arioch, king of Dâlâsâr.
Kardla`mar (Chedorlaomer), king of Elam.
Tar`îl (Tidal), king of the Gîlâyê.
Bârâ (Bera), king of Sodom.
Barshâ (Birsha), king of Gomorrah.
Shênâbh (Shinab), king of Adhâmâh.
Shamâ`ir (Shemeber), king of Zeboim.
Salâkh, king of Bâlâ`.
Tâbhîk, king of Damascus.
Baktôr, king of the desert.

Timeline

2100 BC: Abraham

1500 BC: Exodus of Israelites from Egypt
1336 BC: Pharaoh Akhenaten
1060 BC: First Temple built by Solomon
571 BC: Temple rebuilt
323 BC: Alexander the Great
163 BC: Ptolemaes, King of Commagene declares independent Kingdom
30 BC: Death of Cleopatra VII, Queen of Egypt
70 CE: Destruction of Second Temple

'Philadelphus: The Ancient History of Kings' written by Kimon Webster

8 June 2012
Note

This book was written as part of my research into my mothers maiden name 'Callinicos' which has
now been revealed by modern technology.
The name first seems to be used by Sellekos II Callinicus, 246 BC, the great ruler of the Seleucid
Empire who founded from the city of Kallinicos (modern day Ar Raqqah in Syria) the ruins from
his city can still be found there to this day. The location became the centre for Islamic learning and
culture during the time of Harun al Rashid ruler of the Abbasid dynasty, where the book 'Arabian
Nights' was originally written. The name was linked with the Seleucid dynasty.
The story of Antiochus IV of Commagene is a important clue, in who's linage the name Kallinicos,
or Callinicus continued to be used by the Kings of Commagene. This is key to how the name came
to be used in Greece. As Antiochus IV's second son was Mithridates Callinicus, called simply
Callinicus, and the family all moved to Athens. Not much is known about Callinicus himself after
this point. This being 2000 years later.
There is another Callinicus (the sophist) a few years later, who also came from Athens. He moved to
Alexandria during the time of Queen Zenobia, and wrote many books about her and other works.
He was executed in 273 by Emperor Aurelian in what is now Ar Raqqah after the defeat of
Zenobia's rebellion.
The name then crops up in different points in history, especially of the Byzantine Empire. Most
notably Kallinikos, the inventor of 'Greek fire' in 672, a effective mix of liquid petroleum fire that
could be projected onto water. The substance was used very to drive back the Muslim invaders
attempting to take the city of Constantinople.

Concerning the history as I have told it.

This story is based on research into the history of these times. All the facts I have highlighted here
are to be found in different sources, most notably ancient Syrian and Ethiopian Christian writings,
as well as Josephus who wrote a detailed account of the events leading up the destruction of the
Second Temple, in which is contained the stories of Julius Archelaus Antiochus and Izates . Also I
have consulted ancient Egyptian sources such as 'The Book of the Dead'. And The Nag Hammadi
Scriptures. I have not included the many stories and intricate workings of Roman and Jewish
hierarchy and the many different family alliances and intrigues. Especially the story of young
Salome and the events leading up to the beheading of John the Baptist by Herod Antipas, as
confirmed by Josephus. I have not spent much time on official Jewish sources apart from
Maccabees. Nor have I used any Muslim sources, except from my general knowledge of the story of
Abraham and Ishmael. I still have to investigate the details of this.
I have not included the story of Cleopatra Thea, and how the ancient rivalry between the Seleucid
and the Egyptian Ptolemaic dynasties became a tangled web of deceit and murder between mothers,
sons and brothers. Yet through this mix of family alliances and betrayal, the links between the two
great powers, at the end of their dynasties, were passed on to the Kings of Commagene.
Nor have I included ancient Persian Kings and traditions relating to the story of Adam and the
flood, of which they differ from other more recognised versions on the matter.

Finally I have called the book 'Philadelphus' which is the word used to describe brotherly/sisterly
love, which I feel seems to be at the heart of the story.