From very early on, the Macedonian court attracted leading intellectuals, as did the other Greek princely courts. From the end of the Archaic period already, lyric poets, such as Pindar and Melanippides, historians, such as Herodotos and Hellanikos, and doctors, such as Hippokrates, were frequent visitors at Aigai.
During the rule of Archelaos there also came artists, architects and tragic poets, such as Agathon and Euripides, who taught "Bacchae" and "Archelaos" at the Macedonian court. The 4th century BC also brought philosophers to Macedonia: Sokrates declined Archelaos' invitation, but Plato's student Euphraios taught philosophy to the Companions of Perdikkas.
Above all, Aristotle himself was Alexander III's tutor. Although the Macedonians' own increased proficiency in literature and the arts lessened the need to induce visiting foreigners, until the end of the monarchy in 168 BC, the Macedonian court never ceased to be host to some of the most illustrious intellectuals of the Greek world.
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