Attalos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A male given name of ancient Greek origin associated with several historical rulers and figures, particularly Hellenistic kings noted for their governance and cultural contributions
2. Referring to a series of monarchs from ancient Anatolia known for their political leadership and patronage in the Hellenistic period
3. Designating members of a royal dynasty from classical antiquity famed for their authority and influence in the eastern Mediterranean region

Etymology: The dynasty began with a eunuch. Philetaerus, a treasurer under the Macedonian general Lysimachus, seized control of the fortress city of Pergamon in Anatolia after Lysimachus died in 281 BC, and his family ruled the city and surrounding territory for over a century. The name Attalos belonged to the later kings. Attalus I, who ruled from about 241 to 197 BC, took the royal title after defeating the Galatians, and he and his successors turned Pergamon into a major centre of learning and art. Its library rivalled Alexandria's, and the Great Altar of Zeus, now largely in Berlin, was built under Eumenes II. The name itself is Greek, but its origin is uncertain. Attempts to link it to a native Anatolian or Greek root have not been confirmed, so the family name remains a mystery in its own right. The dynasty ended in 133 BC, when Attalus III died and bequeathed his kingdom to Rome. The territory became the Roman province of Asia.