Euergetes Explained

(Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Εὐεργέτης,), meaning "the Benefactor" (from Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ευ-, "good", + Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: 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.^[1]
• Antigonus III Doson, king of Macedon from 229-221 BC, was called Euergetes.^[2]

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 (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Εὐεργέτις) was also used:

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

See also

• Soter
• Epiphanes (disambiguation)
• Eusebes (disambiguation)
• Inscription of Parthian imperial power

Notes and References

1. Oikonomides. Al. N.. 1982. The Cult of Diogenes "Euergetes" in Ancient Athens. Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik. 45. 118–120. 0084-5388.
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