sefi;g:v. - A Kabbalist walks into a bar, and the

SELEUCIDB SELEUCIDA
an emblem of divine strength, probably also bearing
allusion to the story told by Xppia; (Syr. 57) ; as an
adjunct symbol in the field occurs an anchor, the badge
of the family (cp Justin, 154).
When Ptolemy Cassander and Lysimachus again
combined against Antigonus, Seleucus also joined the
coalition, and was largely instrumental in winning the
decisive victory at Ipsus in which Antigonus fell (301
B. c. ). Seleucus consequently received a great extension
of territory-all Syria, and Asia Minor as far as Phrygia
(with the exception also of Cilicia). Hence the
Seleucidae are spoken of as kings of Asia (e.g., I Macc.
86 ; though in other passages, such as I Macc. 11 13,
it is doubtful whether the term Asia should be restricted
to Asia Minor).
Seleucus reigned over the largest kingdom that had
been carved out of Alexander's empire. The direct
government of the provinces beyond the Euphrates was
in the hands of his son Antiochus. In 281 B. c., by the
defeat of king Lysimachus at Korupedion in Phrygia,
Seleucus became heir by gage of battle to the crowns of
Thrace and Macedonia, and appears to have intended
to hand over his Asiatic possessions to his son, and
spend the remainder of his life (he was now about
seventy-two years old) as ruler of his native country,
Macedonia, from which he had been so long absent.
He set out for Europe, but was murdered at Lysiniachia
by Ptolemy Ceraunus, the exiled elder son of Ptolemy I.
Ceraunus took possession of Thrace and Macedonia ;
Antiochus succeeded to his father's Asiatic sovereignty.
Seleucus was undoubtedly an able administrator of what his
Laodice, who immediately poisoned him and murdered
Berenice and her infant son, and her own son ascended
the vacant throne. It has, however, been suggested
that this dark history was an invention of the Egyptian
partizans of Berenice, and that Antiochus really died a
natural death. According to the traditional interpreta-
tion, Dan. 116 refers to this king (Jerome, in Zoc.) ; but
the text is corrupt (see DANIEL, 5 6J).
Seleucus II., Callinicus' (246-226 B.C.), was the
eldest son of the preceding by his first wife, Laodice.
6. Seleucus 11.
(246-226 B.C.).
FFom the- moment of his accession
Seleucus 11. was engaged in warfare
with Ptolemy 111. Euergetes, who in-
vaded Syria to avenge the death of his sister Berenice
(the third Syrian War). This war is as mysterious in
its course and results as the two previous conflicts
between Egypt and Syria. Ptolemy, we learn, drove
Seleucus beyond the Taurus, captured Antioch, made
himself master of Syria and Phcenicia, and penetrated
even beyond the Euphrates ; the Egyptian successes are
sketched in even more extravagant terms, which make
them tantamount to the recovery of all Alexander's
empire.* Seleucus summoned to his aid his younger
brother Antiochus Hieras, promising him the regency of
Asia Minor. Ptolemy was indeed obliged to consent to
a peace ; but Seleucus soon found himself at war with
his own brother (Justin, 272). Antiochus was at first
victorious, with the help of the Galatai (Celts) ; hut they
deserted him, and w-hen their co-operation was again
bought, both therand Antiochus suffered repeated defeats
at the hands of Attalus of Perpamum. who seized the
ii fact, perhaps the only one of ATexander's succeskors that Hierax was at last driven from the country into Egypt ;
showed an appreciation ~. of Alexander'strue policy (' Ishouldbe 1 but Ptolemv imDrisoned him. and when he escaDed he
~~
inclined to call him a true disciple of Alexander,' Holm, Gk. , .~
~---'r
~ 1~
Hist., ET, 4131).
was slain by brigands (227 B.c., Justin, 273).
Not much is known of the reign of his successor.
Y
Antiochus I., Soter (281-261 B.c.). It yas occupied
3. antiochus I. partly with attempts to assert himself
(281-261 B.C,). in Asia Minor, as a prelude to making
good his claims to the Macedonian
crown, and partly in endeavours to render effective the
Syrian rule over Ccelesyria, as against the claims of
Egypt to those territories (the so-called First Syrian
War).l In Asia Minor he was defeated by the
Bithynians, at the beginning of his reign; and by
Eumenes, king of Pergamum, towards the end of it.2
The intermediate years show him engaged in warfare
with the Gauls who poured into Asia Minor (277 B.c.)
and fonnded the state of Galatia (see GALATIA, 5 I). He
In 201 B.C. AntlOClIUS was killed in battle by abaul(Lelt);
but whether he was actually then fighting the Celtic invaders is
doubtful. He seems to have been a brave and energetic prince ;
history knows nothing to his discredit, and he deserves praise
for his attempts to carry on his father's Grecising policy by
means of city foundations.
Antiochus 11.. Theos 1261-2.46 B.c.\. son of the
4. Antiochua II. preceding and Stratonice, married
(261-246 B.D. ). Laodice, daughter of Antiochus I.
bv another wife I Polvaen. 8 GO\.
\ 2 --,
Practically our knowledge of him is confined to the statements
that 'he was a debauchee and addicted to drink, that he left
affairs in the hands of unworthy favourites that he waged war
in Thrace, that he earned his surname by &rating the Milesians
from their tyrant Timarchus, and that he was generally popular
in the cities of Ionia' (Holm, o#. cif. 4 18s).
Of the second Syrian war which he waged with
Ptolemy Philadelphus, we know little. This led in-
directly to his death ; for to put an end to the strife
Ptolemy gave his daughter Berenice in marriage to
Antiochus, who put away Laodice. After a time,
however, Antiochus changed his mind and recalled
1 Alluded to only in Paus. i. 7 3.
2 See Strabo 624. It occurred near Sardis.
3 See decree'of thanksgiving from Novum Ilium, CIG 3595=
Hicks, Manual, no. 165, with notes thereto added.
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Seleucus apparently owed his title Callinicus to au eastern
expedition in which he vanquished Arsaces of Parthia (Straho,
513 ; Justin, 41 4). Afterwards however, Arsaces defeated
Seleucus in a great battle which ;he Parthians long celebrated
as the foundation of their independence. 'lhe title to the sur-
name of Callinicus was therefore as well made out as is necessary
for an Oriental monarch, and the subsequent foundation of a
city called Callinicum in his hereditary territory on the
Euphrates by the hero who had been fortunate enough to
escape from the Parthians, no doubt madea great impression on
the surrounding inhabitants ' (Holm, oj. cit. 4 2'5).
In 226 B.C. Seleucus lost his life by a fall from his
horse.
Seleucus III., Ceraunus, or Soter (226-223 B.c.),
was the elder son and successor of Seleucus 11. He
6. SeleucusIII. invaded Asia Minor in order to put
/QQc-Qo9 r( F., down Attalus. He was assisted hy his
Seleucus 111. seems to have :eft a son Antiochus mentioned
only in an inscription, to whom are attributed coins' bearing on
one side the image of an infant Antiochus (see Head, ofl. cit. 640,
and cp CIG 4458, and Droysen, Gesch. d. Hell. iii. 2 121).
Antiochus HI., the Great (222-187 B.c.), the younger
son of Seleucus Callinicus and Laodice (Pol.540), was
7. An~iochus only twenty years old when he came to
the throne, and for some time he RUS
III. (222-187 _", entirely under the influence of his
D.V.J.
minister Hermeas. The condition of
Egypt, then governed by Ptolemy IV. Philopator, a weak
and vicious monarch, invited attack. A rebellion in
Persis and Media weakened the blow ; but when that
had been put down, and the king had freed himself
from the evil influence of Hermeas by executing him
(Pol. 556) the war with Egypt was resumed. At first
1 He was also called Pogon, the Bearded, from his habit of
wearing a heard which like Demetrius II., the only other
bearded king of Syria, h: probably adopted d-iring his sojourn
in Parthia (cp Head Hist. Numm. 639).
2 See the Adule 'inscription preserved by Cosmas Indicaleustes
in his Toflogra Ita Christiana=CIG 5127 (and cp
ier. on Dan. 11 5 ; also olyaen. ' 8 50, who says that he pushed
is conquests p+ res 'Idc~+).
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