Lucius Julius Gainius Fabius Agrippa
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| Lucius Julius Gainius Fabius Agrippa | |
|---|---|
| gymnasiarch, Pontifex Maximus | |
| Born | 1st c. |
| Died | 2nd c. |
| Dynasty | Herodian dynasty |
| Father | Gaius Julius Agrippa |
| Mother | Fabia |
Lucius Julius Gainius Fabius Agrippa, also known as Lucius Julius Agrippa, (Greek: Λεύκιος Ιούλιος Γαΐνιος Φάβιος Άγρίππας) was a considerably wealthy man who descended from royalty. He lived in the second half of the 1st century and early part of the 2nd century AD in the Roman Empire.
Agrippa was a son of Cilician Prince Gaius Julius Agrippa (who served as a Quaestor for the Roman Province of Asia and before 109 served as a Praetorian Guard); his mother was a Roman woman who belonged or was related to the Fabia gens. His brother was a younger Gaius Julius Agrippa.
Agrippa was of Jewish, Nabataean, Edomite, Greek, Armenian, Median and Persian origins. Through his paternal grandfather, Herodian Prince and King of Cetis Cilicia Gaius Julius Alexander, Agrippa was a descendant of King Archelaus of Cappadocia; King of Judea Herod the Great; his wife Mariamne and King Tigranes VI of Armenia. Through his paternal grandmother, Princess and Queen of Cetis Cilicia Julia Iotapa, he was a direct descendant of Greek King Antiochus IV of Commagene and his sister-wife Greek Queen Julia Iotapa. Agrippa was an apostate to Judaism. However, his name indicates that the family connections with the Herodian dynasty were not wholly broken. It is unlikely but unknown if Agrippa attempted to exert influence on Judean politics.
Agrippa lived in and became a citizen of Apamea in Western Syria. Little is known of his early life. In his career, Agrippa served as a gymnasiarch and a Pontifex Maximus.
Work in Apamea
In 115, Apamea suffered a serious earthquake. During this crisis, Agrippa served as the city's ambassador to Rome. At his own expense, Agrippa made various generous public benefactions to his community and frequently undertook embassies to the Roman Emperor and the Roman Senate. For six months, Agrippa paid for and distributed expensive olive oil for anointing and corn for public use in Apamea.
With his wealth, Agrippa assisted in the reconstruction of Apamea in the following ways:
- He financed the construction of an extension for the city's aqueduct.
- In 116–17, he bought sufficient land and financed the construction of the baths, an adjacent large hall, and a stoa. The large hall and stoa had lavish decorations and was used for concerts and competitions in music or oratory.
- He commissioned a number of bronze statues of Theseus and the Minotaur, as well as the ancient Greek god Apollo with the satyr Marsyas to be created. These statues were placed in the baths in Apamea which were part of a much larger complex.