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Onesilus (alternatives: Onesilos, Onisillos) (Greek: Ονήσιλος (d. 497 BC) was the brother of king Gorgos (Gorgus) of the Greek city-state of Salamis on the island of Cyprus.

Cyprus was a part of the Persian Empire but when the Ionians rebelled from Persian rule, Onesilos used the occasion to capture the city of Salamis and usurp his brother’s throne; he was able to win every city on the island except for the Graeco-Phoenician city-state of Amathus, which stayed loyal to the Persians.

In 497 BC, the Persians, with the help of the Phoenician navy, mounted an attack on Cyprus. Some of the Ionian colonies sent ships to assist Onesilos. In the ensuing battle, the Ionian fleet was able to defeat the Phoenician navy. Onesilos then led an army against the Persian general, Artybius. While Artybius was killed, the Persians won the battle during which Onesilos was killed. As a result, the Ionian fleet retreated from Cyprus and five months later, the Persians regain control of Cyprus. Onesilos’ brother, Gorgus Chersides, was then reinstated by the Persians as king of Salamis.

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 Cyprus was a part of the [[Achaemenid Empire|Persian Empire]] but when the [[Ionian Revolt|Ionians rebelled from Persian rule]], Onesilos used the occasion to capture the city of Salamis and usurp his brother’s throne; he was able to win every city on the island except for the Graeco-Phoenician city-state of [[Amathus]], which stayed loyal to the Persians.
-The Persians, with the help of the [[Phoenicia]]n navy, soon mounted an attack on Cyprus; some of the Ionian colonies sent ships to assist Onesilos and they faced, and defeated, the Phoenician navy; Onesilos led the army against the Persian general, Artybius, and was defeated; the Ionian ships retreated and five months later, the Persians had regained control of the island.
+In 497 BC, the Persians, with the help of the [[Phoenicia]]n navy, mounted an attack on Cyprus.  Some of the Ionian colonies sent ships to assist Onesilos.  In the ensuing battle, the Ionian fleet was able to defeat the Phoenician navy.  Onesilos then led an army against the Persian general, Artybius.  While Artybius was killed, the Persians won the battle during which Onesilos was killed.  As a result, the Ionian fleet retreated from Cyprus and five months later, the Persians regain control of Cyprus.  Onesilos’ brother, Gorgus Chersides, was then reinstated by the Persians as king of Salamis.
-Gorgos was reinstated as king of Salamis and Onesilos’ head was placed on a pole on the gates of the city of Amathus; as time passed, bees built a hive in Onesilos’ hollow skull and the people of Amathus asked an oracle what they should do; the oracle advised them to bury the skull and institute a yearly sacrifice in honor of Onesilos.
 [[Category:6th-century BC births]]