Philetaerus

Philetairos (Greek: Φιλέταιρος; * to 343 BC; † 263 BC), also Philhetairos, founder of the Hellenistic dynasty of the Attalids in Pergamum was.

Life

Philetairos was born in Tio's in Paphlagonia. His father Attalus was probably Macedonians, his mother Boa came from Paphlagonia and was supposed to be a courtesan. Probably Philetairos was eunuch, possibly due to an accident in his childhood.

Philetairos stood first in the service of the generals Dokimos, who had been a follower of Antigonus Monophthalmos. Around 302 BC, both ran over to Lysimachus, who were entrusted with the supervision of a treasure of 9000 talents of silver at Pergamon. Apparently Philetairos has continued in command after the death of Dokimos in Pergamon alone.

282 BC joined Philetairos a coalition led by Seleucus I, the defeated Lysimachus in the battle of Kurupedion. As Seleucus was assassinated the following year in Macedonia, Philetairos demonstrated his loyalty by buying the body, solemnly burned and the ashes sent to Seleucus ' son Antiochus I.. Pergamon, whose territory included only the immediate vicinity of the town, remained as a semi-autonomous small principality under the dominion of the Seleucids. Towards the end of the reign of Philetairos loosened the dependence of the Seleucids, as evidenced by his coinage. Since he did not own sons, Philetairos adopted the son of his brother Eumenes, Eumenes, who succeeded him on the throne of Pergamon.

In Pergamon advanced Philetairos the urban area by the construction of Philetairischen wall that II ( 197-159 BC) circumscribed the urban area under Eumenes to the fundamental redesign of the castle hill. The construction of the Sanctuary of Demeter, located at that time still before the wall goes back to Philetairos. The Temple of Athena, the main sanctuary of the city, which was formerly often attributed to him, was probably several years earlier.

First Philetairos ' coinage was in the name of Lysimachus, and carried the portrait of Alexander. After the battle of Kurupedion he coined in the same way for Seleucus. In the last decade of his reign the coins then wore Seleucus ' portrait, but Philetairos ' names. After his death, his successor Eumenes I., to mint coins with the portrait of Philetairos, which was continued by the other rulers of the Attalidendynastie began.

Philetairos put his treasure with great skill to increase his prestige. He supported the surrounding cities, such as Aegae, Thespiai and Pitane, with larger donations and helped the city of Cyzicus in the fight against the Galatians. Also on regional sanctuaries like Delos and Delphi honored him for proven good deeds.