kilometers to the south. It had its own local dynasty and coinage, and some of the names of its kings have been recovered. Egyptian Period Thutmose III of Egypt took it in his campaign in north Syria (1472BC), and it is noticed in the campaigns of Ramesses II in the early part of the 13th centuryBC. It is also mentioned in the Amarna letters as being in league with the Amorites in their attacks on the Egyptian possessions in Syria. About 1200BC or a little later, it was sacked by invaders from Asia Minor or the islands, as were most of the cities on the coast. but it recovered when they were driven back. Assyrian Period Its maritime importance is indicated by the inscriptions of the Assyrian kings. Tiglath-pileser I (BC) boasts that he sailed in the ships of Arwad. Ashurnasirpal II (BC) made it tributary, but it revolted and 200 men of Arwad were mentioned among the allies of Hadadezer of Aram Damascus at the Battle of Qarqar, when all Syria seems to have been in league against Shalmaneser III (). At this time, the king of Arwad was Mattan Baal. It was afterward tributary to Tiglath-pileser III and Sennacherib; under Sennacherib, its king was Abd-Ilihit . Ashurbanipal () compelled its king Yakinlu to submit and send one of his daughters to become a member of the royal harem. Persian Period Under the Persians, Arwad was allowed to unite in a confederation with Sidon and Tyre, with a common council at Tripolis. The Book of Ezekiel refers to its seamen and soldiers in the service of Tyre. Hellenistic Period When Alexander the Great invaded Syria in 332BC, Arwad submitted without a struggle under her king Strato, who sent his navy to aid Alexander in the reduction of Tyre. It seems to have received the favor of the Seleucid kings of Syria and enjoyed the right of asylum for political refugees. It is mentioned in a rescript from Rome about 138BC in connection with other cities and rulers of the East, to show favor to the Jews. This was after Rome had begun to interfere in the affairs of Judea and Syria and indicates that Arwad was still of considerable importance at that time. The city has been cited as one of the first known examples of a republic in the Levant region, in which the people, rather than a