Eupator

Eupator is a Greek epithet meaning "well-fathered" or "good father." In ancient Greek and Hellenistic usage, such epithets were commonly attached to royal names to emphasize legitimate succession and the founder-like qualities of a ruler’s lineage.

The term derives from eu- meaning good or well, and patēr meaning father. In regnal titulature, Eupator appears as a descriptive addition to a monarch’s name rather than a personal name in its own right. It is most prominently associated with the Pontic kingdom in the late Hellenistic period, where rulers used epithets to bolster dynastic legitimacy in the face of internal and external challenges. Eupator is typically found in Greek and Latin transcriptions of royal names, sometimes accompanied by additional epithets such as Dionysus, which were common in Pontic titulature.

The best-known bearer of the epithet is Mithridates VI of Pontus, who is often listed as Mithridates VI Eupator Dionysus. He reigned roughly from 120 to 63 BCE and is the central figure associated with the epithet in historical sources. In many accounts, “Eupator” highlights the perceived reliability and virtuous paternity of the ruler, aligning his image with legitimate succession and strong dynastic lineage.

In modern scholarship, Eupator is treated as a historical epithet rather than a standalone name. Its use illustrates broader practices in Hellenistic royal propaganda, where epithets served to project idealized family legitimacy and political authority.