Seleucus I Nikator, 358-281 (Austin 46)
320, settlement at Triparadisus, satrap of Babylon
315-313, in Egypt, fled One-Eye
313, recovers Babylon after Battle of Gaza (Ptolemy v. Poliorcetes)
306-304, begins to use term basileus,
counts own reign as beginning 312/311
308-301, campaigns in eastern Asia, crosses Indus (Alexander's dream)
against Chandragupta, India's Alexander
digression:
near-confluence of Alexander, Chandragupta, Qin and Han Dynasties
the world is changing dramatically
acquires lands west of Indus, Kabul valley (Afghanistan), 500 elephants
301, Battle of Ipsus, gains One-Eye's Asian lands (Anatolia, Ionia)
281, Battle of Corupedium, crosses Hellespont
Lysimachus
killed, Seleucus
assassinated by Ptolemy Keraunos
Antiochus I Soter becomes king
279, terms between Antiochus I and Antigonus II Gonatas
the geopolitical achievements of Seleucus I Nikator (Austin 174)
Further Transformations of the Concept
of Hellenistic Kingship:
- coinage:
Seleucus as Greek king and Persian King
- dynastic mythology: descendants and devotees of Apollo
- co-regency (e. g., Antiochus I regent of the east
from 293/2)
- avoidance of propaganda of conquest; cf.
Babylonian king-lists including Seleucids (Austin no. 138)
- Babylonian and Achaemenid royal ideology: world
domination and conquest king's purpose
- Achaemenid administration, Greek cities founded
- relations with cities (e. g., Austin 139,
142-143, 183, 186)
- respect for native religion and customs; mingling
of Greek and native populations unparalleled (e. g., Antiochus I =
Seleucus +
Bactrian mother; cp. Alexander IV)
- case in point: the Borsippa Cylinder (photograph), cf. Austin 189
- Greeks, Persians, Medes, Jews, Indians
(We'll talk more about the last point in re: Ai Khanoum in
the "The Hellenistic City" lecture.)
Antiochus I Soter (ruled 281-261;
Austin 141),
Antiochus II Theos (ruled 261-246)
problems: Galatian
invasion (see Austin nos. 140, 183) in both Greece and Asia Minor
Syrian
Wars between Seleucids and Ptolemies
First Syrian War (see Austin no. 141) - Seleucus and
Ptolemy wrestling!
Second Syrian War: Antiochus II wins Ptolemaic Asia
Minor, marries Berenice (other wife Laodice, Austin 185)
ca. 247, Parthian kingdom established under Arsaces I
(Austin no. 145)
territory: Euphrates to
Indus, Ecbatana capital
Seleucus II Kallinikos (246-226)
son of Antiochus II and
Laodice >> Third Syrian/Laodicean War over succession
Antioch for Berenice/son, Asia Minor and Greeks there
for Laodice/Seleucus (Austin no. 186)
Casualties: Berenice, son, Far Eastern lands of the
Seleucid Empire
Seleucus II Soter/Keraunos (226-223)
assassinated by army on
campaign v. Attalus I of Pergamum (more on him next time)
succeeded by younger brother, Antiochus III the Great
(Austin 147)
Being a Successor in Asia Minor: the problems
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Updated 3-22-08,
bolmarcich[at]mail.utexas.edu