kingdom · Greece and the Aegean

Kingdom of Pergamon

282 BCE – 133 BCE · capital Pergamon

Hellenistic kingdom of the Attalid dynasty in western Anatolia, a great centre of art and learning that was bequeathed to Rome in 133 BCE.

Origins

Philetaerus, an officer guarding Lysimachus' treasure of 9,000 talents at the citadel of Pergamon, changed sides to Seleucus I in 282 BCE and kept the fortress and money. His nephew Eumenes I asserted independence from the Seleucids. Attalus I took the title of king around 238 BCE after defeating the Galatians.

Rule and society

The Attalids built Pergamon into a showpiece capital of terraces, temples and theatre, with a library second only to Alexandria's, traditionally linked to the development of parchment. The Great Altar of Zeus celebrated victory over the Galatians. Loyal alliance with Rome brought Eumenes II wide lands in Asia Minor after the Peace of Apamea in 188 BCE.

Decline and legacy

Attalus III died in 133 BCE leaving his kingdom to Rome. Aristonicus, claiming to be a royal son, led a revolt that was crushed by 129 BCE, and the kingdom became the Roman province of Asia. The Pergamon Altar is now in Berlin.

Lineage

Kingdom of Lysimachus 306 BCE – 281 BCEKingdom of PergamonRoman Republic 509 BCE – 27 BCE

Connections (6)

  • Kingdom of Pergamon was a vassal of Seleucid Empire281 BCE – 263 BCE
  • Andros was part of Kingdom of Pergamon200 BCE – 133 BCE
  • Ephesus was part of Kingdom of Pergamon188 BCE – 133 BCE
  • Smyrna was part of Kingdom of Pergamon188 BCE – 133 BCE
  • Cyme (Aeolis) was part of Kingdom of Pergamon188 BCE – 133 BCE
  • Galatia paid tribute to Kingdom of Pergamon183 BCE – 166 BCE

More states of Greece and the Aegean →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Kingdom of Pergamon. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-pergamon
MLA
“Kingdom of Pergamon.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-pergamon. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Kingdom of Pergamon.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-pergamon.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Kingdom of Pergamon’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/kingdom-of-pergamon (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻