The Attalid victory at Magnesia on a lost plaque from Pergamon

A small bronze plaque, recovered during 19th-century excavations at Pergamon and lost since its initial publication in 1913, depicts the Battle of Magnesia (190 BC). The scene shows Attalid cavalry rescuing Roman legionaries under attack by Antiochus the Great's heavy phalanx and Gallic cavalry. Analysis suggests this plaque reflects a courtly narrative that exaggerated the role of Eumenes II and his forces in the joint victory, offering new insights into historical perceptions of military heroism. The study reconstructs the lost artifact's significance through detailed examination of its surviving descriptions.

Taylor, M. J. (2016). The Attalid victory at Magnesia on a lost plaque from Pergamon. Anatolian Studies, 66, 81–90. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0066154616000065