Mastanabal
Mastanabal (Numidian: MSTNB; Punic: 𐤌𐤎𐤕𐤍𐤏𐤁𐤀, mstnʿbʾ) was one of three legitimate sons of Masinissa, the King of Numidia, a Berber kingdom in, present day Algeria, North Africa.
Born date unknownLast edited Oct 15, 2026, 7:10 PM
Mastanabal (Numidian: MSTNB; Punic: 𐤌𐤎𐤕𐤍𐤏𐤁𐤀, mstnʿbʾ)12 was one of three legitimate sons of Masinissa, the King of Numidia, a Berber kingdom in, present day Algeria, North Africa. The three brothers were aided by Scipio Aemilianus Africanus to rule Numidia after their father Masinissa's death following his will.3
His name in Numidian was written as "MSTNB" which Salem Chaker gave its possible reconstruction as "Amastan (a)B(a)", which could mean "defender/protector (a)b(a)".4
Biography
Well versed in Greek literature,5 he learned law. Mastanbal is a great sportsman and Athlete since his youth, the prince took part in chariot races and the Panathenaic Games. He was a sportsman who was passionate about horseback riding. He owned a stud farm of purebred horses. Around 168 BC or 164 BC, he won a gold medal at the Athens Hippodrome at the Panathenaic Games in the prestigious horse-drawn chariot racing event.6
According to the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus, after the death of his father in 148 BC, Mastanabal was given authority over the administration of . The Greek historian of the Roman period states in his work ", that Mastanabal shared power with his brothers and , receiving the charge of judicial affairs.
This page is based on “Mastanabal” from English Wikipedia, (r1376584534) CC BY-SA 4.0 used under the license. The original authors are listed in its page history.
Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 7:10 PM · r157440 · Text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.