The Seleukids and Asia

Question 1

Early Seleukids

Answer 1

Seleukos I Nikator 311-281 BC

Antiochos I Soter 281-261 BC

Antiochos II Theos 261-246 BC

Seleukos II Kallinikos 246-225 BC

Seleukos III Keraunos 225-222 BC

Antiochos III the Great 222-187 BC
Seleukos IV Philopator 187-175 BC
Antiochos IV Epiphanes 175-164 BC

Question 2

Difficult beginnings

Answer 2

• Alexander dies in 323, Seleukos is appointed commander of the cavalry
• He follows the regent Perdikkas in his expedition against Ptolemy, and when he fails Seleukos is one of the officers who murder him. He becomes the satrap of Babylon.
• 316 he flees to Egypt to escape from Antigonos. There he serves as a general for Ptolemy
• 311 Seleukos returns to Babylon and resists the attacks of Antigonos and Demetrios. Seleukos makes peace with the Mauryan king Chandragupta and receives 500 war elephants.
• 301 also thanks to the elephants, Seleukos and Lysimachos defeat Antigonos and Demetrios at Ipsos

Question 3

Short triumph of Seleukos

Answer 3

• 281 BC battle of Corupedium and death of Lysimachos. Reunification of most of the empire of Alexander
• Seleukos invades Macedon, but Ptolemy Keraunos (Thunderbolt), exiled son of Ptolemy, murders Seleukos and becomes king of Macedon
• Philetairos, formerly treasurer of Lysimachus, establishes himself as an independent ruler at Pergamum

Question 4

Wars of the Seleukids

Answer 4

• After the death of Seleukos, his successors fight on different fronts to keep united a vast and diverse territory. Loss of parts of their Anatolian possessions to the new kingdom of Pergamon, established by the former treasurer of Lysimachos, and to local rulers (Bithynia, Pontus, Armenia, Cappadocia etc.). Loss of the eastern territories to rebel Greek rulers and finally the Parthians.
• Recurrent wars with the Ptolemies for the control of Southern Syria

Question 5

Antiochos III “The Great”

Answer 5

-Tried to restore Kingdom to its old power after falling to Egypt at Raphia in 217BC
-Re-conquered eastern satrapies
212BC Eastern expedition to Asia

ROME:

• Aggressive politics conflicted with expansion of Rome in eastern med.
• 192BC Syrian war, Anti defeated Romans
• 187BC king dies during sack of a sanctuary

Question 6

Antiochos IV

Answer 6

• Became political hostage in Rome after his dad died
• Invaded Egypt but was stopped by romans
• Maccabean revolt and beginning of independent kingdom of Judea

Question 7

End of Kingdom

Answer 7

63BC Pompeu reorganizes political structure of Asia Minor

-Seleukid Kingdom abolished, replaced by roman province of Syria

Question 8

Structures of Kingdom

Answer 8

• Based on power of the king
• Diverse peoples with own rulers, politics, sanctuaries, etc.
• No model city
• Kingdom was a network of relationships

Question 9

Strategies to increase King’s authority

Answer 9

-Foundation of cities, naming of cities/regions
-Seleukid Era
-Claims of divine origin
-Cult of living dead
193BC cult of queen Laodike (Antiochos III donors his sister)

Question 10

Seleukids as military monarchy

Answer 10

Territory won by the spear

• Importance of victory, connection with the troops
• State is where king is, not where the capital is
• Policy decisions made by King and advisors

Question 11

Administration

Answer 11

Themes of royal propaganda:

1. Protection of Greeks
2. Protection of the subjects
3. Respect traditional customs/religions

Question 12

Champions of Hellenism or Heirs of the Persians???

Answer 12

• Modern scholars see Seleukids as defenders of Greek culture
• Based on late, biased sources
• Recent trend sees them as heirs of Persian empire
• Ruled over large area of old empire, adopted similar strategies
• In Babylon, the Seleukids acted as successors to kings, not Persians…

Question 13

Greeks and Non-Greeks in the Seleukid Kingdom

Answer 13

The population of the new cities founded by the kings was prevalently made of immigrants from the Greek world

• Advisors, governors, etc. all from Greek world
• Had to share King’s culture/views

-Army was mixed, but all trained in a Greek way

Question 14

Babylon in the Kingdom

Answer 14

-Texts provide few local and non-Greek sources

• Seleukids made public displays of respect for cults
• Presented themselves in traditional manner of Babylonian Kings
• Elites kept status

Question 15

Ancient Babylonian City

Answer 15

Uruk- no trace of Greek community

• no gyms, no agora
• some members of upper class took a Greek name in addition to Babylonian name

Question 16

Hellenism in the Seleucid Kingdom

Answer 16

• Doesnt seem they had the intent of spreading Hellenic culture
• Foundation of cities with Greek urban plan and pop’n of Greek origin wasn’t to Hellenize kingdom