The Attalid Dynasty:
Philetaerus (302-263)
Eumenes I (263-241)
Attalus I Soter (241-197)
Eumenes II Soter (197-159)
Attalus II Philadelphus (159-138)
Attalus III Philometor (138-133)
[Eumenes III (133-130), Austin 212-214]
cf. Austin 193
The Beginnings:
foundation myths: Telephus (son of Heracles and Auge), king of Mysia
Pergamos, grandson of Achilles, founder of Pergamum
in reality: Philetaerus, son of a prostitute, traitor
and possible eunuch
Philetaerus (302-263):
302 - Lysimachus on the move in Asia Minor against One-Eye, entrusts
Pergamum to Philetaerus along with 9000T
282 - revolts against Lysimachus in favor of Seleucus
275 - coins: image of Seleucus, name of Philetaerus
keen diplomat to neighbors and Greek states (including Delphi)
built temples of Demeter and Athena
Eumenes I (263-241):
nephew and adopted son of Philetaerus
263 - revolts from Seleucids, encouraged by Ptolemy II (eve of Second
Syrian War)
263 on: Attalids mint coins with image and name of
Philetaerus
significant increase in territory
heavy tribute owed to Gauls
strong supporter of the Academy in Athens
cp. tone of official documents in re: citizens
of Pergamum (Austin 195) and mercenaries (Austin 196): what was the
basis of Attalid power?
Attalus I Soter (241-197):
first cousin once removed and adopted son of Eumenes, distant Seleucid
relative
241 - refuses to pay tribute, victory over Gauls at Caicus River, first
Attalid king
228 - two more battles against Gauls and Seleucids, now controls all
Seleucid territory
north of the Taurus Mountains
Attalid victories dedicated to Athena (Austin 197), goddess added to
coinage
Seleucid general Achaeus (nephew of Queen Laodice) wins back Attalid
gains, allies with Ptolemy IV; peace 220/19
218 - Attalus wins back all of NW Asia Minor
216-214 - Antiochus III puts an end to Achaeus
in Greece:
219 - ally of Aetolian League >> 211: ally of Rome
209-207 - fights with Romans against Philip V of Macedon (First
Macedonian War), gains Aegina
201 - Philip attacks Pergamum and sacks temples and altars
200-197 - Roman ally in Second Macedonian War (against Philip V)
culture: Acropolis sculpture groups
Eumenes II Soter (197-159):
son of Attalus I
Roman ally against Antiochus III the Great (expanding towards Aegean)
188 - Treaty of Apamea, received W Asia Minor as bulwark against
Seleucids
changes in coinage: Eumenes'
coinage and cistophori
culture: Stoa of Eumenes, Agrippa monument, Great Altar of Pergamum
Attalus II Philadelphus (159-138):
son of Attalus I, brother of Eumenes II
successful military commander v. Seleucids
171 - fought Third Macedonian War with Romans
culture: Stoa of Attalus (Athenian Agora), invented a kind of
embroidery!
Attalus III Philometor (138-133):
son of Eumenes II, nephew of Attalus II
self-imposed confinement in palace: gardening, sculpting, metallurgy,
chess
paranoia: killed closest friends and their families
left kingdom to the Romans to avoid a succession crisis (or his brother
as king)
[sidelight: Attalus's legacy sparked some of Tiberius Gracchus's
reforms]
Pergamum divided between Rome, Pontus, and Cappadocia
The
Attalid Difference
attitude towards divine honors/isotheism (Austin 204, kingship)
basis of claim to power
Hellenists not Hellenisticists
Greek not Asiatic, Athenian not Macedonian (Austin 198)
The
Attalids as "culture vultures"
Attalid monuments in
Athens: Agrippa
monument, Stoa of
Eumenes, Stoa of Attalus,
Acropolis
sculpture groups
Pergamum, city of temples
and public works: library, the Great Altar of Pergamum (base; reconstruction;
plan; frieze)
cp. Pergamum and Alexandria
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Updated 3-22-08,
bolmarcich[at]mail.utexas.edu