|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
King
of Pergamum from 197 until his death. A brilliant statesman, he brought
his small kingdom to the peak of its power and did more than any other
Attalid monarch to make Pergamum a great centre of Greek culture in the
East. He managed to expand the wealth and prestige of his state by
maintaining an allegiance with Rome for much of his reign. A vigorous
ruler and an adept politician, Eumenes II helped make Pergamum an
important cultural center, which included a library that was second
only to that of Alexandria.
Eumenes was the eldest son and successor of Attalus I Soter (ruled
241-197), and he continued his father's policy of cooperation with
Rome. His military skill contributed substantially to the victory of
Roman and Pergamene forces over the Seleucid king Antiochus III in the
battle of Magnesia, in Lydia (autumn of 190). As his reward Eumenes was
given control over the Thracian Chersonese (modern Gallipoli peninsula
in European Turkey) and over most of the former Seleucid possessions in
Asia Minor as far as Taurus. Despite this enlargement of his domain,
Eumenes realized that his power rested on Roman might. He therefore
cultivated friendship with the Romans, securing their intervention in
his struggles against the kings of Bithynia and Pontus, in northern
Anatolia.
In 172 Eumenes visited Rome to denounce Perseus, the king of Macedonia,
for allegedly plotting aggressions in the East. He then joined the
Romans in their struggle against Perseus (Third Macedonian War,
171-168), but when the war dragged on it was rumoured that Eumenes was
negotiating secretly with the enemy. Whatever the truth of the report,
the mere suspicion of disloyalty was enough to put Eumenes permanently
in the shadow of Rome's displeasure. Only his death prevented a war
between Pergamum and Rome.
Reconstruction of the great altar at Pergamum
Eumenes was responsible for the construction of nearly all the main
public buildings--together with their splendid sculptures--on the
acropolis at Pergamum. He is also credited with the invention of
parchment.
Eumenes II actively promoted of the worship of Zeus and the other
Olympian gods in Pergamum. He built up the great temple complex and
library for which the city became famous. This was a major religious
center during the Hellenistic period, and second only to Alexandria as
a center of learning.
The altar of Zeus at Pergamum was famous for its elaborate frieze,
which is now located in Berlin. On a coin of Septimus Severus, the
altar at Pergamum is depicted, covered by a baldachin, or canopy,
supported by four columns. In Revelation 2:12-13, the city of Pergamum
- rather than a subterranean region - is identified as the location of
Satan's throne.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
