Attalĭcus

See: Attalus  III. Attălus I. , king of Pergamus, succeeded Eumenes  I. He defeated the Gauls who had invaded his dominions, extended his conquests to mount Taurus, and obtained the a istance of the Romans against Antiochus. The A then i ans rewarded his merit with great honours. He died at Pergamus after a reign of 44 years, B.C. 197. Livy , bks. 26, 27, 28, . — Polybius , bk. 5 .— Strabo , bk. 13 .――The second of that name was sent on an emba y to Rome by his brother Eumenes  II. , and at his return was appointed guardian to his nephew Attalus  III. , who was then an infant. Prusias made succe ful war against him, and seized his capital; but the conquest was stopped by the interference of the Romans, who restored Attalus to his throne. Attalus, who has received the name of Philadelphus , from his fraternal love, was a munificent patron of learning, and the founder of several cities. He was poisoned by his nephew in the 82nd year of his age, B.C. 138. He had governed the nation with great prudence and moderation for 20 years. Strabo , bk. 13 .— Polybius , bk. 5 .――The third succeeded to the kingdom of Pergamus, by the murder of Attalus  II. , and made himself odious by his cruelty to his relations and his wanton exercise of power. He was son to Eumenes  II. , and surnamed Philopater . He left the cares of government to cultivate his garden, and to make experiments on the melting of metals. He lived in great amity with the Romans; and as he died without i ue by his wife Berenice, he left in his will the words Populus Roman us meorum hæres esto , which the Romans interpreted as themselves, and therefore took po e ion of his kingdom, B.C. 133, and made of it a Roman province, which they governed by a proconsul. From this circumstance, whatever was a valuable acquisition, or an ample fortune, was always called by the epithet Attalicus . Attalus, as well as his predece ors, made themselves celebrated for the valuable libraries which they collected at Pergamus, and for the patronage which merit and virtue always found at their court. Livy , bk. 24 , . — Pliny , bks. 7, 8, 33, . — Justin , bk. 39 .— Horace , bk. 1 , ode 1.――An officer in Alexander’s army. Curtius , bk. 4 , ch. 13 .――Another very inimical to Alexander. He was put to death by Parmenio, and Alexander was accused of the murder. Curtius , bk. 6 , ch. 9 ; bk. 8 , ch. 1 .――A philosopher, preceptor to Seneca. Seneca ltr. 108 .――An astronomer of Rhodes.