Niptasan

Niptasan (in berber: ⵏⵉⴱⵜⴰⵙⴰⵏ (Nibtasan)) is a semi-legendary figure of the ancient Numidia, mentioned as the son of Iles and a member of the Massylii dynasty.^[1]

He would be placed in genealogical lists as the successor of his brother Aylimas^[2] and predecessor of Zelalsan II as in Numidian tradition, the brothers come before the sons in succession.^[3] The dates of his reign are sometimes placed between 310 (death of Aylimas) and 270 BC, but these remain hypothetical, due to a lack of direct sources.^[4]

This era preceded the greater involvement of Numidian rulers in Mediterranean affairs, particularly during the conflicts between Carthage and Rome that culminated in the Second Punic War (218–201 BCE).^[5]

Informations about Niptasan comes primarily from oral tradition studies, rather than from contemporary documents or period writings.^[6] Historians emphasize that historical documentation for this period of Numidia is extremely limited or completely inexistant, and that figures like Niptasan should be considered semi-legendary or even entirely fictional.^[3]

It would seem that after his death, he was succeeded by his brother Zelalsan II.^{[citation needed]}