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SELEUCIDE SELEUCIDA the Syrian throne ; ALEXANDER (4.”. , 2) made himself out to be a son of Antiochus Epiphanes. Alexander Bala appeared at an opportune moment, as Demetrius had completely alienated his subjects by his tyranny and excesses (153 B.c.) whilst at the same time he had gwen way to love of drink, the Aereditary vice of his house (Polyb. 33 19). In addition to this, an attempt to secure the island of Cyprus by treachery had indeed failed, but had earned the Syrian monarchy the hostility of Ptolemy Philometor (Polyb. 33 5). The result was that, though a party at Rome (perhaps that of the Scipios) was favourably inclined to Demetrius, the Roman Senate, upon grounds of policy, and also upon more sordid grounds, was mduced to recognise the impostor Alexander (Polyb. 33 IS) who was also supported by Attalus Ariarathes and Ptolemy $‘hilometor. Consequently, in 153 B.c., Alexander appeared with an army in Syria. Both Demetrius and Alexander made bids for the favour of the Jews, who were now under Jonathan (I Macc. lor$). The king recalled his garrisons from all the towns except Jerusalem and Beth-zur, and gave Jonathan power to raise an army and to liberate the hostages. The various taxes and royal claims upon the Jews were also remitted (see the instructive list given in Jos. Ant. xiii. 2zf:).l The impostor, however, was more successful in appealing to Jonathan’s personal ambition, nominating him high-priest, and sending him the insignia of royalty, with the title of ‘king’s friend ’ (cp FRIEND). The decisive battle was fought in 150 B.c., and Demetrius fighting heroically was slain (Justin, 351, Polyb. 35, Jos. Ant. xiii. 24). In spite of the fragmentary and obscure character of the record, we may well doubt whether this Demetrius was not one of the most gifted of the Selencid dynasty (v. Gutschmid, Iran, 43). Demetrius 11.. Nicator (145-139 and 129-125 B.c.), the elder of the two sons of Demetrius I.. had been sent 12.DemetriueII. by his father for protection to (&et reign : 145-139 B.D.r Cnidus when Alexander invaded Syria (Justin, %z), and remained there for some years in exile until he became aware that the usurper had forfeited the goodwill of his subjects by his negligence of state affairs and his self-indulgence (Livy, E@. 50). In 147 B.C. he landed on the Ciliciau coast with a force of Cretan mercenaries (I Macc. 1067). Ptoleniy VI. Philometor had given his daughter Cleopatra Thea (‘one of the most impudent women produced by the Ptolemy line, which had no lack of such characters,‘ Holm, Grk. Hz’rt. 44’7) in marriage to Alexander, and at first came to his assistance, but afterwards transferred his favour to Demetrius II., to whom also he transferred his daughter. Ptolemy’s voZfe-fue was accounted for by a story that Alex- ander had attempted his life (. Macc. 11 IO); but the true motive was probably the desire to take advantage of the intestine strife to annex at least Palestine and Ccelesyria (I Macc. 11 I). According to Jose hus (Ant.xiii. 45f:), Ptolemy actually at Antioch assumed tEe ‘diadem of Asia’ (so also I Macc. 11 sf:, where, however, the motive assigned for Ptolemy’s conduct differs). On this episode, see Mahaffy, Em?. ofthe PtoZemies, 364f: The opportune death of the Egyptian king on the third day after he had gazed upon the severed head of Alexander Balas, removed a formidable rival from the path of Demetrius (I Macc. 11 18 ; was he murdered ? Straho, 751, says that he died from a wound received in the battle on the CEnoparas, near Antioch. fighting against Alexander). Having thus won hack his father’s kingdom by arms he received the title Nicator (‘ Conqueror’ ; Appian, Syr. 67, 5s v68ov TOO y&ms lfvspa vtK4uas).z The entire country, in fact, had rallied to him, with the exception of Judzea, where the ambitious Jonathan had inflicted defeat upon his adherent Apollonius, governor of Coelesyria (I Macc. 10 @ f: ). Denietrius was, indeed, fain to purchase the acquiescence of Jonathan by confirming him in the high-priesthood, and by the abolition of taxes (I Macc. llzof:), and the surrender to Jndaea of three Samarian districts. When peace was assured Demetrius disbanded the 1 See the remarks of Maha@ Em#. of the Pfokmies 182 f a On his coins he also calls hihself Theos and Philadilphos. 4355 native troops and retained only his Cretan mercenaries. This led to risings in Antioch, which were put down by the mercenaries with the aid of 3000 Jewish troops sent by Jonathan. Confiscations and executions alienated the goodwill of the people (I Macc. 1133f.). This emboldened one Diodotus, a native of Kasiana, brought up at Apamea on the Orontes (Strabo, 752; cp id. 668), to declare a young son of Alexander Bala king as Antiochus VI. Dionysus.’ This was in 145 B.C. ’The Jews profited by this revolt, for Demetrius had not redeemed his promises to withdraw his garrisons from Judaea. The disbanded troops also rallied to the standard of his rival, and Demetrius was compelled to evacuate Antioch and to retire to Seleucia (Livy, Epit. 52) or to Cilicia (so Jos. Ant. xiii. 54). Jonathan and his brother Simon mastered all southern Syria (for the details of the operations, see I Macc. 11 601: ). Seleucia, near Antioch, remained true to Demetrius, along - with Ciliciaand the eastern provinces cenerally,* - so that the young Antiochus never ruled 13. Antiochus over more than a small part of (146-142 B.C.) His reign soon came to anamphon YEid, as he was murdered by (142-138 B’C’)‘ Diodotus. who usurped the throne under the name of Tryphon. The date is disputed ; probably it was in 143-142 B.C. : so the coins (see Babelon Rois de Syrie r31f: and cp I Macc. 13 31). On the other hand: according to Jbsephus (Ant. xiii.5 II 7 I) the murder of Antiochus occurred affer the capture of Demetrius by the Parthians. (On this much disputed point see the authorities referred to in Schiir. Ffist. of theJms, ET, i. 1177, and Cambridge Bible, First Book ofM. in 2.c.). The usurper made himself detested for his cruelties. Chiefly he alienated the sympathies of the Jews, and earned their active hatred, by the capture and execution of Jonathan when he had all but established the independence of his country (I Macc. 123gf.). The three or four years of the reign of Tryphon are almost destitute of incident, save for a few isolated notices. His headquarters seem to have been at Cora- cesium in Cilicia Aspera, a robbers’ eyrie on a pre- cipitous crag by the sea. Strabo (668) attributes to him the rise of the piratical power in Cilicia, which afterwards attained such extraordinary dimensions. The generals of Demetrius, in Mesopotamia and Cele- Syria at least, retained their ground before those of Tryphon, whilst Simon, who had succeeded to the leadership of the Jews (I Macc. 138), entered into negotiations with Demetrius, who granted all his demands, including even exemption from tribute (I Macc. 1336f.). Though the Jews thus did not gain absolute independence, but had still to recognise the suzerainty of the Syrian kings, they adopted a new era, and Simon ruled as ethnarch, or vassal prince (I Macc 13413 ; cp Justin, 361 3): At this moment the attention of Demetrius was diverted to Babylonia, where he had to face a new peril. Mithridates I. of Parthia 3 after displaying his power in the 14. Demetrins E., had conquered Media (147 B.c.), and in parthia even Seleucia on the Tigris two years later. (139-129 B.c.). The Babylonians appealed for assistance. Demetrius was joined by the Persians, Ely- mxans, and Bactrians; but jn 139 B.C. he was defeated and taken prisoner by the Parthiam, and carried about through their territorie? as a show4 (I Macc. 14 I, Jos. Ant. xiii. 7 I, Appian, Syr. 67. The actual capture was due to treachery). For ten years Demetrius remained a prisoner ; but very soon after his capture his treatment improved, and he was even given the king’s daughter Rhodogune to wife. Probably the promise of reinqtallation in his kingdom would have been realised bad not Mithridates himself died, and been succeeded 1 The coins of this seven-pear-old king also hear the title Epiphanes. His mother was the Egyptian princess Cleopatra Thea. In A~~ian. Svr.68. he is wronelv _. called Alexander. See ANTIOCHGS, 4. ’ . 2 Cp inscr. from Babylon in Zeitschr. f: Assyr.8110, and inscr. from Papbos in.fourn. of UeZZeenic Sirhes 9 (1880) 230. 3 Mithridates I. reigned 174-136 B.C. He.calls)himself on his coins King of Kings the Great Arsaces, Epiphanes, Euergetea Philhellen. He wis the mo:t considerable of the Parthia; monarchs. 4 From this circumstance he was called mockingly Seripides (Eus. Chron. 1256). 4356
SELEUCIDE SELEUCIDE Syrian suzerainty over Judaea was fully asserted. Next occurred the final attempt of the Seleucidae to overthrow the formidable Parthian power which had wrested from them so much of their eastern possessions. In 130 B.C. Antiochus undertook an expedition against the Parthians. His brother Demetrius was still in their hands, having twice been recaptured when he attempted escape. Three victories gave the Syrian king the possession of Babylonia, and brought to his standard all the peoples who had been reduced under the Parthian yoke.4 Phraates opened negotiations with Antiochus to amuse him, while he prepared once more to try his fortune in the field (Diod. 35 IS); more effective still was the stroke by which Demetrius was at last released from captivity in order to cause the withdrawal of the Syrian forces. In the next collision with the Parthian trcops Antiochus fell, bravely fighting (Appian, Syr. 68; Justin, 38 IO). His entire army was cut to pieces. The Parthian king, having thus won the victory by arms, keenly regretted having set Demetrius at liberty 16. Demetrius (see 5 14), and tried to recapture him, He tried next to undo his (second II., Nicator hut failed. reign, work by sending into Syria a second 129-126 B,C.). pretender, a son of Antiochus, the late king, Seleucus by name, who had fallen into his hands. This also proved of no avail. Demetrius, however, did not long enjoy his change of fortune. 1 'In Sida urbe educatus, quapropter Sidetes utique vocahatur' (Eus. Chron. 1255). On his coins Antiochus VII. calls himself Euergetes, which was, therefore, his true official title. Jos. Ant. xiii. 7 I calls him &njp. 2 On his coins Tryphon calls himself BauiAoLs ahoKp&op, which no other Syrian ruler does. 3 This Anticchus was not hostile to the Jewish faith, and for his tolerance was called EusebCs (' pious '), Jos. Ant. xiii. 8 2. 4 For these victories Antiochus received the title Great (Dittenb. Sylkp,ll) 244 and 245, BalrrA\ioc pcydhov 'AWL~XW, cp Justin, 38 10 : ' Magnus haheri ccepit '). 4357 See ANTIOCHUS, 5. He was induced to enter into war with Egypt on behalf of Cleopatra XI., sister-wife of Ptolemy Physcon,' and his own mother-in-law, who had taken refuge in Syria. The war with which he was thus threatened Physcon evaded by setting up Alexander Zabinas, a pretended son of Alexander I. Bala, to claim the Syrian throne.* Supported hy a strong Egyptian army the pretender invaded Syria, where several cities fell away from Demetrius The decisive battle was fought in 125 B.C. near Damascus, and Demetrius was defeated. He fled to Ptolemais to his wife Cleopatra, who refused to receive him and when he tried to enter Tyre, had him murdered (Justid, 39 i, Appiau, Syr. 68, Jos. Ant. xiii. 9 3). Little is known of the rule of Alexander 11. ; but one authority at least passes a favourable verdict8 He lllexander entered into friendly relations with by Phraates 11. as Arsaces Philopator Epiphanes Philhellen (reigned 136-127 B.c.). It seemed hetter to this monarch to retain Demetrius in order to he able to use him in case of threatening circumstances. Whilst Demetrius was a captive in the hands of the Parthians (see above, § 14) his younger brother Antio- 16, Bntiochus chus Sidetes, who owed his surname to vII., sidetes the fact that he had been brought up at (138-129 B.C.). Side in Pamphylia (see SI DE),^ asserted his claims to the kingdom of Syria (I MRCC. 15 13 ). He was now sixteen years old. His attempt succeeded, perhaps chiefly because he was joined by queen Cleopatra Thea, who, enraged at the union of Demetrius with the daughter of the Parthian king, went over to the side of Antiochus, and surrendered to him the strong tower of Seleucia, near Antioch, which Hyrcanus, influenced largely, no doubt, during all these years she had held for Demetrius. Tryphon was defeated and driven into the Phcenician town of sefi;g:v. by the desire to find support against Dora, where he was besieged. Thence he escaped to Apamea, Egypt, from which power he soon but was again besieged, aud compelled to end his life by his own became estranged (Jos. Ant. xiii. 93). He was, in fact, hand (I Macc. 15 1037 ; Strabo, 668 ; Jos. Ani. xiii. 7 2; Appian, not left to enjoy his usurped dignity long without Sur. 6Q.2 Antiochus married Thea (' the objectionable but rivals. Immediately upon the death of Demetrius II., evidently inevitable adjunct of the Syrian throne,' Seleucus, the son of the murdered king, laid claim to Holm, Grk. Hist. 4419). and acted very vigorously to the throne, only to be murdered after a few months by unite again the severed fragments of the Syrian kingdom the infamous Cleopatra Thea, his mother, who was (Justin, 361). First and foremost came the necessity indignant that he should have taken such a step without of dealing with Palestine, which in the turmoil of the her, and without sharing the power with herself. past few years had absorbed large tracts of Syrian Cleopatra then put forward the second son of Demeterritory, and attained an almost completely indetrius 11. as heir to the throne; his claim was also pendent position, even entering into diplomatic relations ls. Antiochus supported by Egypt. Alexander 11. with distant and, in part, hostile powers (I Macc.105gJ vIII., Grypus4 was defeated and fled to Antioch, and 121f. 14163 24). In 135 B.C. Antiochus invaded (12s-96 B,c.). then to Seleucia (Diod. Sic. 3528. Judaea in person. Already, three years previously, the lustin, 392). Finally he was captured Syrian king had come into collision with the Jews, and brought to Antiochus, who had him put to death. who, under Judas and John Hyrcanus, inflicted a defeat Thus from 125 B.C. Antiochus reigned, in association upon his general CEXDEBBUS. After the assassination with his mother, after the fashion common in Egypt. of Simon and two of his sons by his son-in-law Their joint reign lasted four years5 The queen-mother was thrown more and more into the shade, Ptolemy, the son of Abubus (I Macc. 1611f.), John especially after the marriage of her son with Cleopatra Try- Hyrcanus had become high priest and prince of Judza. phrena, given to him by her father Ptolemy Euergetes 11. as a Upon the invasion by Antiochus he was shut up in the pkdge of Egyptian support, and also after 123 B.C. by the victory gained over Alexander 11. (cp Justin 39 z : 'Cleopatra citadel of Jerusalem for at least a year, and then forced cum huius [sc. Antiochi] quoque victoria infehorem dignitatem to capitulate. The walls were destroyed, hostages juam factam doleret'). In 121 1i.c. she tried to poison him but demanded, with five hundred talents indemnity, and was compelled instead to drink the draught herself (Apbian, tribute for the cities which had been occupied by the syr. 69). Maccabees (Diod. 341, Justin, 361, Jos. AnLxiii. 8 ~ ) . ~ For some years Antiochus Grypus reigned quietly, and then there arose a claimant to the throne in the person of his half-brother and cousin 19. Antiochus Antiochus (IX.), son of Antiochus VII. IX., Cyxicenus Sidetes and Cleopatra Thea (see above, (116-96 B.C.). Ij 1.5). Antiochus owed his surname to his having been brought up at Cyzicus (his title on his coins is Philopator), whither his mother had sent him in 129 B.C. upon the return of Demetrius II., her second husband, from his Parthian captivity (Jos. Anf. xiii. 101). The poisoned cup with which his mother had made him familiar was employed in vain by Grypus to remove this rival. The attempt only precipitated the inevitable struggle (116 B.c.). In the first important battle of the war Grypus was victorious, and took Antioch. where he found his own sister-in-law Cleopatra IV., sister and divorced wife of Ptolemy Soter 11. (Lathyrus); having been expelled from Egypt by her mother (;.e.. Cleopatra III., Physcon's niece and former wife, who herself married Ptolemy Soter) Cleopatra had married Antiochus Cyzicenus. By command of her sister, Try- 1 Ptolemy Euergetes II., or Physcon, reigned 146-117 B.C. Or, according to another and more probable version (Justin, 59 I), he claimed to be an adoptive son of the dead Antiochus VII. Sidetes. He was really an Egyptian, son of a merchant called Protarchus though Jos. Ani. xiii. 9 3 calls him a genuine pleucid. He alko gives the title as Zehinas. It is translated slave ' (~yyopamhs) in Eus. Chron. 1257. 3 Diod. sic. 35 22 (34 45). $V yhp Irpp^OC Kai OV~VUJpOVtK&, k r 6; ;v 7a;s 6prAiars rai iu sak ;vs&ur rrpoq6c. &v a' LU 6ra4epivros h b 7i)v rroAASv $F&TO. His titles are Epiphanes Philometor (!) Callinicus. The name Grypus= ' hook-nose '-a feature conspicuous on his coins. Grypus is, of course, not an official, hut a vulgar title. 6 Coins hear her portrait, with cornucopiae. Her titles are Thea and Eneteria ('abundance '). 4358
Page 1 and 2: SCRIP SCYTHIANS like the Scribes re
Page 3 and 4: SCYTHIANS SCYTHIANS seven months in
Page 5 and 6: SCYTHIANS SCYTHIANS Tabiti (‘Iun
Page 7 and 8: SEA CALVES SEDECIAS for the priests
Page 9 and 10: SELA-HAMMAHLEKOTH SELAH the land of
Page 11 and 12: SELEUCIDB SELEUCIDA an emblem of di
Page 13: SELEUCIDA SEILEUCIDA Pelusium and o
Page 17 and 18: SEM SENNACHERIB After the defeat of
Page 19 and 20: SENNACHERIB SENNACHERIB Babylonia.
Page 21 and 22: SENUAH SEPHARAD tended was Seti (th

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