Abgar, Bar-maanu

Abgar, Bar-Maanu, a descendant of Abgarus (q.v.), who reigned in Edessa about the year 200, was a Christian and friend of Bardesanes (see Euseb. Chronic. ad Olymp. 149, 1; and Epiphan. Hoer. 56, ). That he did not believe in the gnosticism of his friend may be seen from the fact that the orthodox Epiphanius styles him ἀνὴρ ὁσιώτατος — ; while Eusebius, in his Chronicon, calls him ἱερὸν ἄνδρα. In the year 216, Abgar was deposed by the emperor Caracalla, and Edessa became a Roman colony. (B. P.)