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Euergetes

Honorable title given to benefactors in ancient Greece and the Hellenistic period


Summary

Honorable title given to benefactors in ancient Greece and the Hellenistic period

grc (, grc), meaning "the Benefactor" (from ευ-, "good", + εργετης, "doer, worker"), was an epithet, an honoring title, given to various benefactors. Euergetism (literally "doing good deeds") was the practice of high-status and wealthy individuals distributing part of their wealth to the community. For example,

  • Archelaus I of Macedon supplied wood to Athens, taking the titles of proxenos and euergetes in 407/6 BC.
  • Diogenes Euergetes a Macedonian commander who was named euergetes by the Athenians.
  • Antigonus III Doson, king of Macedon from 229-221 BC, was called Euergetes.

The title was given to several Hellenistic monarchs:

  • Alexander I Theopator Euergetes, Seleucid king, reigned 150-145 BC
  • Antiochus VII Euergetes, Seleucid king, reigned 138–129 BC
  • Attalus III Philometor Euergetes, king of Pergamon, reigned 138–133 BC
  • Mithridates V Euergetes, king of Pontus, reigned 150–120 BC
  • Nicomedes III Euergetes, king of Bithynia, reigned 127–94 BC
  • Ptolemy III Euergetes, king of Egypt, reigned 246–222 BC
  • Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II, king of Egypt, reigned 169–164, 144–132, 126–116 BC
  • Telephos Euergetes, Indo-Greek ruler, reigned 75–70 BC
  • Tiraios I Euergetes, king of Characene, reigned 95/94-90/89 BC
  • Demetrius III Theos Philopator Soter Philometor Euergetes Callinicus, Seleucid king, reigned 96–87 BC

The feminine form grc (Εὐεργέτις) was also used:

  • Cleopatra Euergetis, queen of Egypt, reigned 142–131, 127–101 BC

References

References

  1. Oikonomides, Al. N.. (1982). "The Cult of Diogenes "Euergetes" in Ancient Athens". Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik.
  2. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0149:book=40:chapter=54&#note-link1 Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 40, note 1]
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