Pyrgoteles

Pyrgoteles was one of the most celebrated gem-engravers of ancient Greece, living in the latter half of the 4th century BC. The esteem in which he was held may be inferred from an edict of Alexander the Great, which placed him on a level with Apelles and Lysippos, by naming him as the only artist who was permitted to engrave signet rings for the king. (Plin. H. N. vii. 37. s. 38, xxxvii. 1. s. 4.)

Works Pyrgoteles was one of the three court artists authorized to depict Alexander the Great's figure in art (the others being Apelles for painting and Lysippos for sculpture). Pliny the Elder (Natural History 37.8) adds that Alexander had issued an edict forbidding anyone to engrave his image on emeralds, and other gems, outside of Pyrgoteles.

Unfortunately, every thing else respecting Pyrgoteles is left to the unknown, due to the neglect of ancient writers and modern forgers, lack of remains, and so many copies coming out of that same time period. There are several works under the name of Pyrgoteles, but of these the best known have been demonstrated by Winckelmann to be forgeries, and very few of the others have any signs to authenticity due to the mass production of pieces with the name Pyrgoteles on them or just a "P". This causes much confusion when it comes to identifying authentic works of Prygoteles.

Impact Many of these catalogued works were from the Greeks as well as the Etruscans. The Greeks inherited seal engraving, along with other accomplishments from people and travelers of the near East. Apart from the penchant for the scarab form in the sixth century, the art quickly Hellenized and became a favorite medium for virtuosity. The Greek gem cutters introduced the scarab to Italy, where is continued to be adopted to Etruria, and the Etruscans eventually tagged along as well. Gem engraving and coins were a new curated art form that, much like most Greek art, was admired and copied and taken on to show politics, mythology and historical events.