Pausanias | |
---|---|
King of Macedonia | |
Reign | August/September 394/3 – 393/2 BC[1] |
Predecessor | Amyntas II |
Successor | Amyntas III |
Born | ? |
Died | 393/2 BC |
Dynasty | Argead |
Father | Aeropus II |
Mother | unknown |
Religion | Ancient Greek religion |
Pausanias (Ancient Greek: Παυσανίας Pausanías)[a] was king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon for around a year, from 394/3 to 393/2. He was the son of Aeropus II and an unknown mother, but he did not succeed his father when Aeropus died in July or August 394/3 BC.[3] Instead, Amyntas II ruled Macedonia for several months before being assassinated in August or September 394/3 by the Elimieotan Derdas.[4] According to Diodorus, Pausanias himself was assassinated sometime in 393/2 by Amyntas III, who then succeeded him as King of Macedonia.[5] However, Diodorus also entirely omits the reign of Amyntas II who all other ancient sources and modern scholars agree ruled before Pausanias.[6][7]
There is a minority view among scholars that Aeropus II was a Lyncestian prince, rather than an Argead, who married into the dynasty, therefore enabling him later to become regent for Orestes.[8] Of course, this implies that Pausanias was not an Argead as well. However, the majority of historians believe Aeropus to be Perdiccas II's son and thus a member of the dynasty.[7][9][10][11]
Media related to Pausanias of Macedon at Wikimedia Commons