Ancient Greece - 323-317 BCE Kingdom of Macedon Philip III AV Stater NGC AU

Babylon Mint. Obverse: head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested Corinthian helmet, with divergent crest ends pushed back on head, ornamented with coiled serpent.  Reverse: ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ, Nike standing facing outward, head to left, a wreath in her outstretched right hand, stylus cradled in her left arm. MH monogram above coiled serpent and star in left field. Well struck, dramatic imagery on brilliant and lustrous gold flan.

Philip III as pharaoh on a relief in Karnak. Photo: wikipedia.

Philip III Arrhidaeus ruled as king of Macedonia, the ancient Greek kingdom in northern Greece. A son of King Philip II of Macedon by Philinna of Larissa, he was therefore an elder half-brother of Alexander the Great. He was named Arrihidaeus at birth, however took the name Philip when he assumed the throne.

As Arrhidaeus grew older it became evident that he was learning disabled. Plutarch believed his disability was through an attempt on his life by Philip II's wife, Queen Olympias, in order to eliminate a potential rival to her son, Alexander, by using pharmaka (drugs/spells). Most modern scholars dispute this claim. Alexander, who was affectionate towards Arrhidaeus, brought him on campaigns with him. This was both to protect his life and thwart any plots to use him as a pawn in a potential challenge to his throne. After the death of Alexander in Babylon (323 BCE), the Macedonian army in Asia declared Arrhidaeus to be king. However, he served as a figurehead and pawn of several powerful generals.