(), so called because it was said he was
always about to give but never did, was the son of Olympias of Larissa and Demetrius of
Cyrene, who was a son of Demetrius Poliorcetes and a brother of Antigonus
Gonatas. [ANTIGONIDAE.] On the death of Demetrius II., B. C. 229, Antigonus was appointed guardian of his son Philip, whence he
was sometimes designated by the surname Ἐπίτροπος.
(Athen. 6.251d.; Liv. 40.54.) He
married the widow of Demetrius, and almost immediately afterwards assumed the crown in his own
right. At the commencement of his reign he was engaged in wars against the barbarians on the
borders of Macedonia, but afterwards took an active part in the affairs of Greece. He
supported Aratus and the Achaean league against Cleomenes, king of Sparta, and the Aetolians,
and was completely successful. He defeated Cleomenes, and took Sparta, but was recalled to
Macedonia by an invasion of the Illyrians. He defeated the Illyrians, and died in the same
year (B. C. 220), after a reign of nine years. Polybius speaks
favourably of his character, and commends him for his wisdom and moderation. He was succeeded
by Philip. V. (Justin, 28.3, 4; Plut.
Arat. and Cleom. ;Plb. 2.45, &c., 70; Niebuhr, Kleine
Schriften, p. 232, &c.) [ARATUS; CLEOMENES.]