Polyaratus
（
*Polua/ratos), a Rhodian, one of the leaders of the party in that state favourable to Perseus,during the second Macedonian War.
According to Polybius he was a man of an ostentatious and extravagant character, and had, in consequence, become loaded with debts, which he hoped to pay off by the king's assistance.
At the commencement of the war (B. C. 171) he united with Deinon in endeavouring, though unsuccessfully, to induce the Rhodians to refuse the assistance of their ships to the Roman praetor C. Lucretius; but shortly afterwards he supported with success the proposition made to allow Perseus to ransom the Macedonian captives who had fallen into the hands of the Rhodians (
Plb. 27.6,
11).
He continued throughout the war to maintain an ctive correspondence with Perseus; and in the third year of the contest (B. C. 169), matters having apparently taken a turn more favourable to the king, the Rhodians were induced, by his efforts and those of Deinon, to give a favourable audience to the ambassadors of Perseus and Gentius, and to interpose their influence at Rome to put an end to the war (
Liv. 44.23,
29).
But this step gave great offence to the Romans, and after the defeat of Perseus, Polyaratus hastened to provide for his safety by flight.
He took refuge at the court of Ptolemy, king of Egypt, but his surrender being demanded by the Roman legate Popillius, the king, in order to evade compliance, sent him away secretly to Rhodes. Polyaratus, however, made his escape on the voyage, and took refuge, first at Phaselis, and afterwards at Cibyra, but the inhabitants of both these cities were unwilling to incur the enmity of the Roman senate, by affording him protection, and he was ultimately conveyed to Rhodes, from whence he was sent a prisoner to Rome. (
Plb. 29.11,
30.9.)
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E.H.B]
