Changes

Philaterios made his move to capture Pergamon when he aligned with Seleucus against Lysimachus in 282 BC. Although Seleucus died in the ensuing battle, Philaterios took Lysimachus’ riches and with the control of the city. He then adopted Eumenes I (ruled 263-241 BC) and initiated a new political dynasty, which he named after his father, Attalos. Philaterios started ambitious building projects and made sure that the kingdom was in good hands. <ref> Kästner, p. 33</ref>

====Pergamon as a Political Capital====

The first three Attalid kings were just as able in the arts of diplomacy as they were with war. Beginning with Eumenes I, they used those abilities to expand the kingdom southward, defeating less powerful peoples, while making alliances with the more powerful Hellenistic kingdoms and the Romans. When Attalus I (reigned 241-197 BC) came to the throne, Pergamon’s expansion was met with that of the expansion of a Gaul tribe known as the Galatians. In 240 BC the Gauls formed a federation in the region of northern Phrygia, but were defeated by Attalus I at the Battle of Kaikos. <ref> Papini, Massimiliano. “Commemorations of Victory: Attalid Monuments to the Defeat of the Galatians.” In <i>Pergamon and the Hellenistic Kingdoms of the Ancient World.</i> Edited by Carlos A. Picón and Seán Hemingway. (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2016), p. 40</ref> The victory over the Gauls consolidated Pergamon’s power over Asia Minor and made it a major player in the geopolitics of the Hellenistic world.