Adeia
Encyclopedia
Adeia also known as Adaea (flourished second half of the 4th century BC & first half of the 3rd century BC) was a Greek
noblewoman. She was the wife of Autodicus
, one of the four Somatophylakes
for the Greek Macedonian King Philip III Arrhidaeus
who reigned 323 BC-317 BC. One of Autodicus’ brothers was Lysimachus
one of the Diadochi
of Alexander the Great.
Adeia was a woman from obscure origins and she is only known from surviving archaeological evidence. In the reign of her brother-in-law Lysimachus who ruled from 306 BC-281 BC as King over Thrace
, Anatolia
and Macedonia
; Adeia, Autodicus and their family were prominent figures in Lysimachus’ Thracian court and were among those who stayed loyal to Lysimachus. Adeia bore Autodicus children however the identities of their children are unknown.
At an unknown date in Lysimachus’ rule, he dedicated a statue of Adeia in the sanctuary of the Amphiaraon
at Oropus
. The statue is now unfortunately lost. This statue may have been dated to the last years of Lysimachus’ life and Lysimachus dedicated the statue of Adeia in the recognition of her Arete
and Eunoia
.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
noblewoman. She was the wife of Autodicus
Autodicus
Autodicus also known as Autodikos, Autolycus and Autolykos was a Greek nobleman who was a Macedonian Thessalian who served as an official....
, one of the four Somatophylakes
Somatophylakes
Somatophylakes , in its literal English translation from Greek, means "bodyguards".The most famous body of somatophylakes were those of Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great. They consisted of seven men, drawn from the Macedonian nobility, who also acted as high-ranking military officers,...
for the Greek Macedonian King Philip III Arrhidaeus
Philip III of Macedon
Philip III Arrhidaeus was the king of Macedonia from after June 11, 323 BC until his death. He was a son of King Philip II of Macedonia by Philinna of Larissa, allegedly a Thessalian dancer, and a half-brother of Alexander the Great...
who reigned 323 BC-317 BC. One of Autodicus’ brothers was Lysimachus
Lysimachus
Lysimachus was a Macedonian officer and diadochus of Alexander the Great, who became a basileus in 306 BC, ruling Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon.-Early Life & Career:...
one of the Diadochi
Diadochi
The Diadochi were the rival generals, family and friends of Alexander the Great who fought for the control of Alexander's empire after his death in 323 BC...
of Alexander the Great.
Adeia was a woman from obscure origins and she is only known from surviving archaeological evidence. In the reign of her brother-in-law Lysimachus who ruled from 306 BC-281 BC as King over Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
, Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
and Macedonia
Macedonia (Greece)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of Greece in Southern Europe. Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region...
; Adeia, Autodicus and their family were prominent figures in Lysimachus’ Thracian court and were among those who stayed loyal to Lysimachus. Adeia bore Autodicus children however the identities of their children are unknown.
At an unknown date in Lysimachus’ rule, he dedicated a statue of Adeia in the sanctuary of the Amphiaraon
Amphiaraus
In Greek mythology, Amphiaraus was the son of Oecles and Hypermnestra, and husband of Eriphyle. Amphiaraus was the King of Argos along with Adrastus— the brother of Amphiaraus' wife, Eriphyle— and Iphis. Amphiaraus was a seer, and greatly honored in his time...
at Oropus
Oropos
Oropos is a small town and a municipality in East Attica, Greece.-Geography:It is situated on the southern Euboean Gulf, opposite Eretria. Oropos is located N of Avlona and Athens, E of Thebes and SE of Chalcis. Oropos is linked with the road linking Nea Palatia and Sikamino...
. The statue is now unfortunately lost. This statue may have been dated to the last years of Lysimachus’ life and Lysimachus dedicated the statue of Adeia in the recognition of her Arete
Arete
Areté is the term meaning "virtue" or "excellence", from Greek ἈρετήArete may also be used:*as a given name of persons or things:**Queen Arete , a character in Homer's Odyssey.***197 Arete, an asteroid....
and Eunoia
Eunoia
Eunoia is the shortest English word containing all five main vowel graphemes. It comes from the Greek word εὔνοια, meaning "well mind" or "beautiful thinking." It is also a rarely used medical term referring to a state of normal mental health....
.
Sources
- Lysimachus’ article at Livius.org
- H.S. Lund, Lysimachus: A Study in Early Hellenistic Kingship, Routledge, 2002
- W. Heckel, Who’s who in the age of Alexander the Great: prosopography of Alexander’s empire, Wiley-Blackwell, 2006