Philopator

Philopator (Greek: Φιλοπάτωρ), 'loving father' was a commonly used royal epithet/surname by hellenistic kings.

Etymology

Philopator is a conjunction of φιλος, 'phi-los', and πατήρ, 'pa-teer'.

While φιλος is normally translated as 'friend' or with the concept of a close companion, it can be also be regularly used in the concept of 'love' as in the clear variant verb φιλεω, 'phil-e-ow', 'to love' or as in φιλαυτος, 'self-lover' or 'self interested').

Meanwhile πατήρ clearly translates as 'father'.

When the two are conjunct, they create the concept of a "loving & caring companion like father": more directly: "Loving Father". But the concept of "Benefactor" is evident. The use of the epithet by queens leads some to conclude that the translation should be more like 'father-lover'.

Usage

While the direct translation is most naturally 'Loving Father' as seen in Etymology, as discussed there the usage by queens reveals that the epithet is being used as a publicity stunt to broadcast their alleged care for their subjects as a loving father who cares for and provides their needs. The concept was carried to Rome with the emperor of being oft hailed as the Father of Rome. By extension the title of POPE being commonly recognized as stemming from the root for 'father' is not dissimilar in its usage.

Jesus Christ words "And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven" (Matt 23:9), while oft used by Protestants as an attack on the Catholic tradition of calling a priest 'Father', is more directly a reference to the claims of the Emperor. Similarly Christ's words "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors" (Lk 22:25) reveals the common vernacular usage of the time of the title of 'loving father' or the likes of 'benefactor'.

Examples

• Antiochus X Eusebes Philopator, Seleucid king

• Ariarathes V Eusebes Philopator, King of Cappadocia
• Ariarathes IX Eusebes Philopator, King of Cappadocia
• Ariarathes VI Epiphanes Philopator, King of Cappadocia
• Ariobarzanes II Philopator, King of Cappadocia
• Arsinoe III Philopator, Queen of Egypt
• Cleopatra VII Philopator, Queen of Egypt
• Mithridates IV Philopator Philadelphos, King of Pontus
• Ptolemy IV Philopator, King of Egypt
• Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator, King of Egypt
• Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator, King of Egypt
• Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, son of Cleopatra VII and Julius Caesar
• Seleucus IV Philopator, Seleucid king
• Strato III Soter Philopator, Indo-Greek king

It can also refer to:

• Philopator I, Roman client king of Cilicia
• Philopator II, Roman client king of Cilicia
• Philopator (moth), a genus of moths in the family Zygaenidae