Epigonus of Telmessos (, flourished 3rd century BC) was a Greek prince from Asia Minor.
Family background Epigonus may have been a second-born son to Ptolemy I Epigone and younger brother Lysimachus of Telmessos, but this is disputed.Billows, Kings and colonists: aspects of Macedonian imperialism, p.110 Ptolemy Epigone was the initial heir of Ptolemy II PhiladelphusTunny, Ptolemy ‘the Son’ Reconsidered: Are there too many Ptolemies? and was related to three of the Diadochi of Alexander the Great: Lysimachus, Ptolemy I Soter and the powerful Regent Antipater.Ptolemaic Genealogy: Arsinoe II, Footnotes 4 & 5Ptolemaic Genealogy: Berenice I
Life Little is known about the life of Epigonus, as he was a part of the Lysimachid dynasty, which is also known as the Ptolemaic-Lysimachid dynasty in LyciaBillows, Kings and colonists: aspects of Macedonian imperialism, p.p.103&229 in ruling the city of Telmessos. He was born at an unknown date either in his father’s co-regency of the Ptolemaic Kingdom with Ptolemy II in Alexandria Egypt which was from 267 BC until 259 BCPtolemaic Genealogy: Ptolemy II or when his father was the first Ptolemaic client king of Telmessos in Lycia. His father ruled Telmessos from late 259 BC until his death in February 240 BC. and his brother Lysimachus succeeded their father as the second Ptolemaic client king of Telmessos who ruled from early 240 BC until his death in 206 BC.
Epigonus name means "heir" in Greek. It had been used as an epithet by his possible father, Ptolemy I.Billows, Kings and colonists: aspects of Macedonian imperialism, p.103 Epigonus is only known from inscriptions from Telmessos and dedicatory inscriptions from the Greek island of Delos.Billows, Kings and colonists: aspects of Macedonian imperialism, p.103
As his family likely had relative autonomy from Ptolemaic control increasedBillows, Kings and colonists: aspects of Macedonian imperialism, p.102 and Ptolemaic power declined rapidly and dramatically outside of Egypt after the death of Ptolemy III Euergetes in 222 BC, probably Epigonus with his family had the motive and opportunity for divorcing themselves from Ptolemaic suzerainty.Billows, Kings and colonists: aspects of Macedonian imperialism, p.102 At an unknown date, Epigonus with his brother and their families were enjoying excellent cordial relations with the Seleucid monarch Antiochus III the Great.Billows, Kings and colonists: aspects of Macedonian imperialism, p.102 Antiochus III reigned from 222 BC until 187 BC, was an enemy of the Ptolemies who was at the time expanding Seleucid power in Asia Minor.Billows, Kings and colonists: aspects of Macedonian imperialism, p.103 By a wife whose name is unknown, he had a son named Antipater.Billows, Kings and colonists: aspects of Macedonian imperialism, p.103
References
Sources Lysimachus’ article at Livius.org Ptolemaic Genealogy: Berenice I Ptolemaic Genealogy: Arsinoe II Ptolemaic Genealogy: Ptolemy "the Son" Ptolemy ‘the Son’ Reconsidered: Are there too many Ptolemies?, Jennifer Ann Tunny, University of Queensland, 2000 R.S. Bagnall, The administration of the Ptolemaic possessions outside Egypt, Brill Archive, 1976 R.A. Billows, Kings and colonists: aspects of Macedonian imperialism, BRILL, 1995