Galatia Hellenistic period

the dying gaul roman marble copy of hellenistic work of late 3rd century bc. capitoline museums, rome.

the celts settled in galatia came through thrace under leadership of leotarios , leonnorios c. 270 bc. defeated seleucus in battle of elephants , still able establish celtic territory in central anatolia. galatians respected warriors , used mercenaries in armies of successor states. continued attack neighboring kingdoms such bithynia , pergamon, plundering , extracting tribute. came end when sided renegade seleucid prince antiochus hierax tried defeat attalus, ruler of pergamon (241–197 bc). attalus severely defeated gauls, forcing them confine galatia. theme of dying gaul (a famous statue displayed in pergamon) remained favorite in hellenistic art generation signifying victory of greeks on noble enemy. in 2nd century bc, galatians became allies of antiochus great, last seleucid king trying regain suzerainty on asia minor. in 189 bc, rome sent gnaeus manlius vulso on expedition against galatians. galatia henceforth dominated rome through regional rulers 189 bc onward.

after defeats pergamon , rome galatians became hellenized , called gallo-graeci historian justin Ἑλληνογαλάται (hellēnogalátai) diodorus siculus in bibliotheca historica v.32.5, wrote called helleno-galatians because of connection greeks.