Monthly Archives: September 2021

What with everything that’s been going on in the western portions of the Seleucid empire, the last time we had a prolonged spell with the eastern satrapies was during the conquests of Seleucus I and his campaign against the Mauryans in episodes 7 and 8. This week, we’re going to pan back round to those neglected provinces to see what’s been going on there. While there, we’ll also be laying the groundwork for an independent kingdom that is going to form part of the final arc of our narrative- the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom…

Sources for this episode: 1) Chisholm, H. (1911, eBook 2016), The Encyclopaedia Britannica (A-M): A dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information (11th edition, A-M). New York: Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. [Accessed 11/08/2021]. 2) The Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica (2016), Diodotus I (online) [Accessed 10/08/2021]. 3) The Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica (1998), Diodotus II (online) [Accessed 11/08/2021]. 4) Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 5) Rawlinson, G. (1869) A manual of ancient history from the earliest times to the fall of the Western Empire, comprising the history of Chaldea, Assyria, Media, Babylonia, Lydia, Phoenicia, Syria, Judea, Egypt, Carthage, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, Rome, and Parthia. Oxford: Clarendon Press. (eBook) [Accessed 02/03/2021]. 6) Young, T. C., Dresden, M. J., Bivar, A. D. H. and Ghirsham, R., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2018), ancient Iran (online) [Accessed 12/08/2021 and 19/08/2021]. 7) Author unknown, Our Baby Namer (date unknown), Diodotus Meaning (online) [Accessed 13/08/2021]. 8) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiochus Nicator (online) [Accessed 12/08/2021]. 9) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiochus II Theos (online) [Accessed 12/08/2021]. 10) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Arsaces I of Parthia (online) [Accessed 13/08/2021]. 11) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Diodotus I (online) [Accessed 10/08/2021]. 12) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Diodotus II (online) [Accessed 11/08/2021]. 13) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (online) [Accessed 10/08/2021].

For the first time since Antiochus I’s flight westwards after his father’s death in 281 BCE, we’re going to see the Seleucids intervene in Europe and attempt to win back some territory on the other side of the Bosporus. Specifically, we’re going to focus on Antiochus II’s hostility with Byzantium (the settlement which will become Constantinople about six hundred years from now)- as well as a campaign fought in Thrace.

Sources for this episode: 1) Bevan, E. R. (1902), The House of Seleucus (Vol. I). London: Edward Arthur. 2) Ehrlich, B., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2021), Istanbul (online) [Accessed 01/08/2021]. 3) Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 4) Ilıev, J. (2013), The Campaign of Antiochus II in Thrace, History Studies International Journal of History 5(1): 211- 222. 5) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Cypsela (Thrace) 6) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Polyaenus (online) [Accessed 09/08/2021].

Round two of the scrap for Syria! Although my sources seem to be slightly uncertain about some of the details, the broad strokes of the conflict are agreed upon. So, today, let’s discuss a conflict that will rage from the early to late 250s BCE- and which will also have implications for Antiochus II’s rule in the east…

Sources for this episode: 1) Bevan, E. R. (1902), The House of Seleucus, London: Edward Arthur. 2) Bevan, E. R., Encyclopaedia Britannica (1911, edited by Hugh Chisholm), Seleucid dynasty. Available at: Wikisource [Accessed 18/06/2021]. 3) Bevan, E. R. (1927), The House of Ptolemy, London: Methuen Publishing. Available at: LascusCurtis [Accessed 08/02/2021]. 4) The Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica (check date), Antiochus II Theos (online) [Accessed 21/04/2021]. 5) The Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica (check date), Syrian Wars (online) [Accessed 30/07/2021]. 6) Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 7) Heinen, H., Encyclopaedia Britannica (check date), Ptolemy II Philadelphus (online) [Accessed 21/04/2021]. 8) Rawlinson, G. (1869) A manual of ancient history from the earliest times to the fall of the Western Empire, comprising the history of Chaldea, Assyria, Media, Babylonia, Lydia, Phoenicia, Syria, Judea, Egypt, Carthage, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, Rome, and Parthia. Oxford: Clarendon Press. (eBook) [Accessed 02/03/2021]. 9) Tunny, J. A. (2000), Ptolemy ‘The Son’ Reconsidered: Are there too Many Ptolemies? Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik 131: 83-92. 10) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiochus II Theos [Accessed 25/05/2021]. 11) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Nicomedes I of Bithynia (online) [Accessed 01/08/2021]. 12) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ptolemy II Philadelphus [Accessed 28/03/2021].

The Second Syrian War has begun! However, rather predictably, it will not simply be a contest between the Ptolemies and the Seleucids; the Antigonids are going to get sucked into the hurricane of battle as well. So, this week, we’re going to recap the relationship between the Antigonids and the other major powers and discuss the alliance between Antigonus II and Antiochus II against their mutual enemy…

Sources for this episode: 1) Bevan, E. (1902) The House of Seleucus (Vol I.). London: Edward Arthur. 2) Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 3) Heinen, H., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2019), Ptolemy II Philadelphus (online) [Accessed 17/06/2021]. 4) Volkmann, H., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2019), Antigonus II Gonatas (online) [Accessed 15/06/2021]. 5) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antigonus II Gonatas (online) [Accessed 19/06/2021]. 6) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Battle of Cos (online) [Accessed 19/06/2021]. 7) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Demetrius I of Macedon (online) [Accessed 15/06/2021]. 8) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Demetrius the Fair (online) [Accessed 15/06/2021]. 9) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Seleucus I Nicator (online) [Accessed 15/06/2021]. 10) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Stratonice of Syria (online) [Accessed 15/06/2021]. 11) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Syrian wars (online) [Accessed 19/06/2021].