Iarbas

Iarbas (or Hiarbas) was a Roman mythological character, who has appeared in works by various authors including Ovid and Virgil. The character is possibly based on a historical king of Numidia.

This article is about the legendary figure associated with the foundation of Carthage. For the historical Numidian ruler, see Hiarbas (king).

In Roman mythology, Iarbas was the son of Jupiter Hammon (Hammon was a North African god associated by the Romans with Jupiter, and known for his oracle) and a Garamantian nymph.[1] He became the king of Getulia. According to Virgil's Aeneid, he fell in love with the Carthaginian queen Dido, who rejected his advances in favour of Aeneas.[2]

Variations of the story were referred to by Ovid. In Ovid's Heroides, Dido describes Iarbas as one of her suitors,[3] to whom Aeneas would be handing her over as a captive if he should leave her.[4] In Ovid's Fasti, Iarbas and the Numidians invade Dido's land after her suicide, resulting in his capturing her palace.[5]

Macrobius, and Pompeius Trogus also tell versions of the myth; in Justin's epitome of Pompeius he is king of the Muxitani.

Iarbas is briefly referenced in Dante's Purgatorio as owning part of the land south of Italy.[6] Iarbas is also a character in Christopher Marlowe's play Dido, Queen of Carthage.[7]

References
  1. Virgil Aeneid 4.198.
  2. Virgil Aeneid 4.213-4.
  3. "Book IV". www.cliffsnotes.com. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  4. Ovid Heroides 7.125.
  5. Ovid Fasti 3.551-4.
  6. Dante Purgatorio 31.72.
  7. "Dido, Queen of Carthage | play by Marlowe and Nashe". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
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