Neoptolemus I | |
---|---|
King of Epirus | |
Reign | 370-357 BC |
Predecessor | Alcetas I of Epirus |
Successor | Arybbas of Epirus |
Issue | Alexander I of Epirus Olympias (married Philip II of Macedon) Troas (married Arybbas of Epirus) |
House | Aeacidae |
Father | Alcetas I |
Religion | Ancient Greek religion |
Neoptolemus I of Epirus (Greek: Νεοπτόλεμος Α' Ηπείρου) (370–357 BC) was a Greek king of Epirus and son of Alcetas I, and father of Troas, Alexander I of Epirus and Queen Olympias. He was the maternal grandfather of Alexander the Great and great-grandfather of Pyrrhus of Epirus.[1] He claimed he was a descendant of hero Achilles and King Lycomedes, while Emperor Caracalla claimed that he was a descendant of Neoptolemus I. Olympias was originally known as Polyxena and it is possible that Neoptolemus gave her that name.