Victorious Kings. Hellenistic Rulers and Agonistic Success

This chapter investigates the role of Hellenistic kings and queens as agonistic victors. It explores how some dynasties of the period used equestrian successes as a means of representation. Clearly the most successful family in the field of athletics, the Ptolemies presented themselves as a victorious, Macedonian dynasty which integrated the female members of the family into an image of power. The Attalids labelled themselves a loving family of united brothers in which no disputes over the throne ever occurred. In contrast, the Antigonids and Seleucids were free to refrain from participating in equestrian competition, since Alexander had never competed.