Cold Case: Who Assassinated Philip II of Macedon? Five Suspects Examined
In the summer of 336 BC, during a wedding celebration in Aigai, King Philip II of Macedon was murdered by his bodyguard, Pausanias of Orestis. Philip, who was unarmed, was stabbed before Pausanias managed to escape but was subsequently killed by those pursuing him. According to Aristotle's Politics, Pausanias was driven to this act after being insulted by Attalus, whom Philip chose not to punish, fostering a lasting resentment. Justin implies that Olympias, Philip's fourth wife, may have orchestrated the assassination out of jealousy, whereas Plutarch highlights her role in creating tension between Philip and Alexander. Additionally, the Lyncestian brothers were implicated, with two facing execution. Darius III is also considered a suspect due to Philip's intended invasion of Persia. The exact motives behind the assassination remain unclear.
Key facts
- Philip II of Macedon was assassinated in the summer of 336 BC in Aigai by his bodyguard Pausanias of Orestis.
- Pausanias stabbed Philip between the ribs as the king entered the theater unarmed and without his guard.
- Aristotle's Politics is the earliest account, stating Pausanias acted because Philip allowed Attalus to insult him.
- Diodorus wrote that Attalus got Pausanias drunk and gave him to mule cart drivers to be abused, and Philip refused to punish Attalus.
- Justin claimed Olympias, Philip's fourth wife, instigated the murder and prepared escape horses for Pausanias.
- Plutarch reported that Alexander was sympathetic to Pausanias and quoted Medea to urge him on.
- Three Lyncestian brothers—Heromenes, Arrhabaeus, and Alexander—were accused; two were executed, one pardoned by Alexander the Great.
- Darius III of Persia was accused by Alexander of instigating Philip's murderers, according to Arrian.
Entities
Artists
- Philip II of Macedon
- Alexander the Great
- Pausanias of Orestis
- Attalus
- Cleopatra
- Olympias
- Hermocrates
- Aristotle
- Diodorus
- Justin
- Plutarch
- Heromenes
- Arrhabaeus
- Alexander of Lyncestis
- Darius III
- André Castaigne
- Andrea Boscoli
Institutions
- Polycentric Museum of Aigai
- Carlsberg Glyptotek
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Louvre Museum
- National Institute and Museum Bitola
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli
- University of Oxford
- Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai
- The Classical Quarterly
- Historia: Zeitschrift Für Alte Geschichte
- Classical Press of Wales
Locations
- Aigai
- Macedon
- Greece
- Epirus
- Illyria
- Lyncestis
- Persia
- Heraclea Lyncestis
- Vergina
- Pompeii
- Naples
- Imathia
- Bitola
- Oxford
- Chicago
- Copenhagen