What is "lysippus"

Lysippus (, flourished 4th century BC) was a Greek nobleman who was a Macedonian Thessalian.

Lysippus was a member of a very wealthy, political influential and distinguished family. He was the son of Alcimachus by unnamed Greek woman and his paternal uncle was called Philip.

Lysippus’ known grandparent, his paternal grandfather also called Alcimachus was the oldest brother of Lysimachus one of the Diadochi of Alexander the Great. Lysippus seems to be the known great-nephew of Lysimachus. His paternal ancestors were political and socially connected to the Argead dynasty in particular to King Philip II of Macedon who reigned 359 BC–336 BC and his son, King Alexander the Great who reigned 336 BC–323 BC and they served in various official positions under the rule of Philip II and Alexander.

Little is known on Lysippus, however he is known through surviving inscriptional evidence. Lysippus served as Proxenos on the Greek island of Ios. In an inscription from Ios, honors him as Lysippus son of Alcimachus and the inscription refers to his father’s eunoia toward the state.

Lysippus is a crater on Mercury. It has a diameter of 140 kilometers. Its name was adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1976. Lysippus is named for the Greek sculptor Lysippos, who lived in the 4th century BCE.