Apollonias, Widow of Attalus
Apollonias, the wife of Attalus, father of king
note
Eumenes, was a native of Cyzicus, and a woman
who for many reasons deserves to be remembered, and with honour. Her claims upon a
favourable recollection are that, though born of
a private family, she became a queen, and retained that exalted
rank to the end of her life, not by the use of meretricious fascinations, but by the virtue and integrity of her conduct in private
and public life alike. Above all, she was the mother of four
sons with whom she kept on terms of the most perfect affection
and motherly love to the last day of her life. And so Attalus
and his brother gained a high character, while staying at
Cyzicus, by showing their mother proper respect and honour.
For they took each of them one of her hands and led her
between them on a visit to the temples and on a tour of the
town, accompanied by their suite. note At this sight all who saw
it received the young princes with very warm marks of approval,
and, recalling the story of Cleobis and Biton,
compared their conduct with theirs; and remarked that the affectionate zeal shown by the young princes,
though perhaps not going so far as theirs, was rendered quite
as illustrious by the fact of their more exalted position.
This took place in Cyzicus, after the peace made with king
Prusias. . . .
