Philetairus

Philetairus was a eunuch and a military officer who, in the 3rd century BCE, became the founder of the Attalid dynasty of Pergamon. Born around 343 BCE, Philetairus served as a treasurer under Lysimachus, one of Alexander the Great's successors. Following Lysimachus's defeat and death in 281 BCE, Philetairus seized control of the strategically important city of Pergamon and its surrounding territory.

He shrewdly navigated the complex political landscape of the Hellenistic period, playing a delicate balancing act between the various successor kingdoms. By allying himself with Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt, Philetairus secured his position and began to consolidate his power. He ruled Pergamon for over forty years, transforming it from a minor stronghold into a significant regional power.

Philetairus was known for his administrative skills and for initiating the extensive building programs that would later characterize Pergamon's golden age. He commissioned the construction of the Sanctuary of Athena Nikephoros and began the development of the Pergamene acropolis, laying the foundation for the magnificent city that his successors would inherit. He never married and died without heirs, designating his nephew Eumenes I as his successor. Philetairus's reign marked the beginning of the Attalid dynasty, which would rule Pergamon for over a century, leaving a lasting legacy in art, architecture, and governance.