previous next


Attalus Iii.

Surnamed PHILOMETOR, was the son of Eumenes II. and Stratonice, daughter of Ariarathes, king of Cappadocia. While yet a boy, he was brought to Rome (B. C. 152), and presented to the senate at the same time with Alexander Balas. He succeeded his uncle Attalus II. B. C. 138. He is known to us chiefly for the extravagance of his conduct and the murder of his relations and friends. At last, seized with remorse, he abandoned all public business, and devoted himself to sculpture, statuary, and gardening, on which he wrote a work. He died B. C. 133 of a fever, with which he was seized in consequence of exposing himself to the sun's rays while engaged in erecting a monument to his mother. In his will, he made the Romans his heirs. (Strab. xiii. p.624; Plb. 33.16; Just. 36.14; Diod. xxxiv. Exc. p. 601; Varro, R. R. Praef.; Columell. 1.1.8; Plin. Nat. 18.5; Liv. Epit. 58; Plut. TG 14; Vell. 2.4; Florus, 2.20; Appian. Mithr. 62, Bell. Civ. 5.4.) His kingdom was claimed by Aristonicus. [ARISTONICUS.]

hide Dates (automatically extracted)
Sort dates alphabetically, as they appear on the page, by frequency
Click on a date to search for it in this document.
152 BC (2)
138 BC (2)
133 BC (2)
hide References (3 total)
  • Cross-references from this page (3):
    • Polybius, Histories, 33.16
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 18.5
    • Plutarch, Tiberius Gracchus, 14
hide Display Preferences
Greek Display:
Arabic Display:
View by Default:
Browse Bar: