hi sam,
thanks for your answer. Unfortunately, there is syria incorrect. philip comes from near the Hauran territory (area of Shahba), near his birthplace, he founded Philippopolis.
This area still belongs to the end of the second century to Syria. at the beginning of the third century it was assigned to the province of arabia. (see here the doctor work of Christian Körner "Philip the Arab"). Under Marcus Aurelius was the territorial counted to Syria.
He is also considered the first emperor from the Orient on the imperial throne. Thus, the nickname is created "arabs (arab)".
greetings priscus
Wikipedia is not always correct , and if so the Arabs did not attack the land until the 5 century AD.
The native language for that region was Aramaic in
Philip I days and even before (up to this moment the Aramaic language
still spoken in Shahba , Maloula and
north east of
Syria )
that is why you see on some
Athens Tetradrachms Aramaic letters , not Arabic letters.
However disagreements do not effect friendship , nice meeting you.
