Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία

1. Biography-activity

The Galatian leader Domnilaus was the tetrarch of the tribe of the Tectosagi. He is probably identified with the Galatian tetrarch Domneclius, father of Adiatorix, who was the high priest of the sanctuary at Pessinus.¹ His brother was probably Castor I Tarcondarius, also a tetrarch of the Tectosagi. If the two tetrarchs were indeed brothers, then they might have been the sons of the Galatian leader to whom Pompeius ceded the tetrarchy of the Tectosagi during the administrative organization of Asia Minor in 63 BC. Domnilaus must have shared with Castor the leadership of the tetrarchy, according, however, to a more plausible version, the two leaders governed separate parts of the area of the Tectosagi. In this case the dominion of Domnilaus was at the northern part of the tetrarchy, as inferred by the fact that Castor I most certainly lived in the south.²

When the second civil war broke out in Rome (49-45 BC), Domnilaus, like the other Galatian tetrarchs of the region, took the side of Pompeius. In the battle which took place at Pharsalus in Thessaly in 49-48 BC, he participated with a cavalry unit of 300 men, led by Castor II, son of Castor I Tarcondarius. Since this is the only historical reference to Domnilaus, it is concluded that the Galatian was killed in action. After his death apparently his dominion was taken over by the king of the Tolistobogii Deiotarus I and his son, Deiotarus II, as inferred by the fact that the tomb of Deiotarus II was found near the Galatian fort of Bloukion, in an area where most probably the northern section of the tribe of the Tectosagi had settled.³

1. Domneclius: Str. 12.3.6. A possible identification of Domnilaus with Domneclius: Syme, R., Anatolica. Studies in Strabo (Oxford 1995), p. 132; Mitchell, S., Anatolia. Land, Men, and Gods in Asia Minor 1: The Celts in Anatolia and the Impact of Roman Rule (Oxford 1993), p. 40

2. See Syme, R., Anatolica. Studies in Strabo (Oxford 1995), p. 130; Hoben, W., Untersuchungen zur Stellung kleinasiatischer Dynasten in den Machtkampfen der ausgehenden romischen Republik (Mainz 1969), p. 80 ff. The view that Domnilaus and Castor I were probably sons of the ruler to whom Pompeius offered the tetrarchy of the Tectosagi has been supported by Jones, Α.Η.Μ., CERP², p. 408, and Hoben, W., Untersuchungen zur Stellung kleinasiatischer Dynasten in den Machtkampfen der ausgehenden romischen Republik (Mainz 1969), p. 80 ff. This view has been questioned by Syme, R., Anatolica. Studies in Strabo (Oxford 1995), p. 130. According to Niese and Spickermann Domnilaus was probably son and heir of the tetrarch of the Trocmii Brogitarix and, thus, himself also a tetrarch of the Trocmii. This view seems to be totally hypothetical and is rejected by Syme and Hoben. See Niese, B., “Straboniana IV. Galatien und seine Tetrarchen”, RhM² 38 (1883), p. 591; DNP 3 (1997) 761, see “Domnilaus” (W. Spickermann); Syme, R., Anatolica. Studies in Strabo (Oxford 1995), p. 130, no. 34; Hoben, W., Untersuchungen zur Stellung kleinasiatischer Dynasten in den Machtkampfen der ausgehenden romischen Republik (Mainz 1969), p. 78, no. 121.

3. Caes., Civ. 3.4. Syme’s view that Domnilaus sent his son at the battle of Pharsalus is wrong, since Cicero clearly reports that the son of Castor took part in the battle. See Syme, R., Anatolica. Studies in Strabo (Oxford 1995), p. 130; Cic., Deiot. 28; Hoben, W., Untersuchungen zur Stellung kleinasiatischer Dynasten in den Machtkampfen der ausgehenden romischen Republik (Mainz 1969), p. 95. For the extension of Deiotarus’ dominion to the north of the tetrarchy of the Tectosagi see Coupry, J., “Les Tumuli de Karalar et la sepulture du roi Deiotaros Β΄”, RA Serie 6(6) (1935), p. 150 ff. Hoben, W., Untersuchungen zur Stellung kleinasiatischer Dynasten in den Machtkampfen der ausgehenden romischen Republik (Mainz 1969), p. 80 ff.