Abgarus

A'bgarus, A'cbarus or Au'garus (Ἄβγαρος, Ἄκβαρος, Ἀυγαρος), a name common to many rulers of Edessa, the capital of the district of Osrhoene in Mesopotamia. It seems to have been a title and not a proper name. (Procop. Bell. Pers. 2.12.) For the history of these kings see Bayer, " Historia Osrhoena et Edessena ex nummis illustrate," Petrop. 1734. Of these the most important are :

1. The ally of the Romans under Pompey, who treacherously drew Crassus into an unfavorable position before his defeat. He is called Augarus by Dio Cassius (40.20), Acbarus the phylarch of the Arabians in the Parthian history ascribed to Appian (p. 34. Schw.), and Ariamnes by Plutarch. (Crass. 21.)

2. The contemporary of Christ. See the following article.

3. The chief, who resisted Meherdates, whom Claudius wished to place on the Parthian throne : he is called a king of the Arabians by Tacitus (Tac. Ann. 12.12. 14), but was probably an Osrhoenian.

4. The contemporary of Trajan, who sent presents to that emperor when he invaded the east, and subsequently waited upon him and became his ally. (D. C. 68.18. 21.)

5. The contemporary of Caracalla, who acted cruelly towards his nation, and was deposed by Caracalla. (D. C. 77.12.)

(Ἄβγαρος), Acbărus (Ἄκβαρος) or Augărus. A name common to many rulers of Edessa, the capital of the district of Osrhoëné in Mesopotamia. Of these rulers one is supposed by Eusebius to have been the author of a letter written to Christ, which he found in a church at Edessa and translated from the Syriac. Eusebius (Eccles. Hist. i. 13) gives the text of the letter and also of the alleged reply. A translation of both can be found in McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature, s. v. Abgarus.