Dios°
DIOS°
DIOS° (Dius ; c. 2nd century b.c.e.), historian, quoted by Josephus, who refers to him as "an accurate historian of Phoenicia" (Ant., 8:146–9; Contra Apionem, 1:112–5). Dios relates that King Solomon sent riddles to King Hiram ("Hirom") of Tyre, asking him to send him others in return, on the understanding that the one who failed to solve them would forfeit a sum of money. Hiram agreed and, unable to find the solutions, forfeited a large sum. Subsequently, however, with the aid of a Tyrian named Abdemon, Hiram not only solved Solomon's riddles but sent him others which Solomon could not solve. He had then to repay to Hiram more than he received. Dios also indicates that Hiram transformed Tyre by building up the eastern side with embanked fortifications and enlarging the town, linking it by a causeway to the off-shore island with a Temple of Zeus/Baal Shamin.
bibliography:
M. Stern (ed.), Greek and Latin Authors on Jews and Judaism. vol. 1 (1974), 123–25.
[Shimon Gibson (2nd ed.)]