Pyrgoteles

The esteem in which he was held may be inferred from an edict of Alexander the Great, which placed him on a level with Apelles and Lysippos, by naming him as the only artist who was permitted to engrave signet rings for the king.

Pliny the Elder (Natural History 37.8) adds that Alexander had issued an edict forbidding anyone to engrave his image on emeralds, and other gems, outside of Pyrgoteles.

[1] Unfortunately, every thing else respecting Pyrgoteles is left to the unknown, due to the neglect of ancient writers and modern forgers, lack of remains, and so many copies coming out of that same time period.

Various texts suggest that next to gem-engraving, Pyrgoteles was responsible for coin dies as well, and coinage was one of the main forms of propaganda and marketing of images in the ancient times.

Following Alexander's premature death, Pyrgoteles would have most likely continued his career in the courts of his successors, which we know as Lysippos and Apelles, who shows up in much of the literature pertaining to Prygoteles, and are often associated with being his disciples and predecessors.

This paying respect to Alexander carries the implicit connotation of Lysimachos’ own regal and military qualities, admirably demonstrated through his victory at the crucial battle of Ipsos in 301 BC.