Founder of the Ariathid Dynasty

Archelaus was a prominent Greek general from Cappadocia who served under King Mithridates VI of Pontus in northern Anatolia and was also his favorite general. Possibly of Macedonian descent, his parents are unknown, but his ancestors are thought to be Greeks who arrived in Anatolia after the expedition of Alexander the Great. He had a brother called Neoptolemus and his family were active in the Pontic Court. As he was a friend of Mithridates VI, the Pontic King gave Archelaus the court title of philos.