Seleucia on the tigris, at the mouth of the great royal canal naharmalka, mod. Princeton university press, 1961 antioch turkey 752. The latest on seleucid empire building in the east article pdf available in journal of the american oriental society 82. The name of six kings of syria, four of whom are of some significance. Ancient books from different peoples tell that the moon. Coming from seleucia on the tigris, mesopotamia, the capital of the seleucid empire, or, alternatively, seleukia on the erythraean sea, he is best known as a proponent of heliocentrism and for his theory of the origin of tides. He was named king antiochus ii theos or god during the second syrian war that erupted during his reign. Seleucus correctly theorized that tides were caused by the moon, although he believed that the interaction was mediated by the pneuma. Seleucus was married with his niece laodice, daughter of andromachus, who was a direct descendant of seleucus i and apama, too. Coins of the seleucid empire from the collection of arthur. Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow and bow. In mathematics, the babylonians devised the base 60 numeral system, determined the square root of two correctly to seven places, and demonstrated knowledge of the pythagorean theorem before pythagoras. The first part of the book discusses the numerical strength of the armies, their sources of manpower, the contingents of the regular army, their equipment and historical development, the chain of command, training and discipline. Born in the babylonian town of seleucia, he is today primarily remembered as the only known supporter of aristarchuss heliocentric theory, maintaining that it accurately described the physical structure of the universe.
This city was built by seleucus nicator, the king of syria. The empire created by alexander the greats general, seleucus, constituted the largest hellenistic kingdom of the successor states. Seleucus i nicator simple english wikipedia, the free. This information is part of by on genealogy online. Despite not receiving his share of the fallen kings empire until several years. Afterwards, he founded, and built with great rapidity, the city of seleucia upon the tigris, at the distance of about forty miles from babylon, and had transferred thither the seat of government even before b. By 300 bce, seleucus controlled mesopotamia including. Julyaugust 265 bc december 225 bc, was a ruler of the hellenistic seleucid empire, who reigned from 246 bc to 225 bc. When alexander died, he left no certain successor to his kingdom but, allegedly, claimed it should go to the strongest. Plutarch in his life of pelopidas recycles his story of antigonus facing. Pdf the latest on seleucid empire building in the east. Upon his accession, the young seleucus led an expedition to western asia minor in order to regain the territory that had been lost to attalus i of pergamon during his fathers reign.
Seleucus founded a number of new cities during his reign, including antioch 300 bc and in particular seleucia on the tigris c. Seleucus ii callinicus, fourth king reigned 246225 of the seleucid dynasty, son of antiochus ii theos. The son of a macedonian nobleman, seleucus was born between 358 and 354 b. He grew up with the kings son, alexander, and became alexanders close associate during his. After seleucus i died, his heirs spent much of their time and money trying to maintain the enormous empire they had inherited. Paul and his companions sailed from this port on their first missionary journey acts. Seleucia on the tigris, iraq um lsa kelsey museum of. The seleucid empire 31263 bce was the vast political entity established by seleucus i nicator victor or unconquered, l. A history of the hellenistic near east under the seleucid dynasty two volumes in one edwyn r. The empire contained high civilizations with their own ancient histories.
Syria seleucus i one of alexander the great s generals was named seleucus, and he was a satrap or governor of babylon when king alexander died. The bronze apollo coins from the second workshop at seleuciaonthetigris fall into. Stratonice fled to seleucia, hoping to take refuge with ptolemy iii, but was captured en route and executed. Diaries as a source for achaemenid and seleucid history. Laodice poisoned him and proclaimed her son as king seleucus. Seleucus arguments for a heliocentric theory were probably related to the phenomenon of tides. It will be followed in about a year by seleucid coins, part 2, covering seleucus iv through antiochus xiii. Faced with multiple enemies on various fronts, and not always successful. This momentarily put an end to the seleucid empires ambitions in greece. Oct 22, 2019 seleucus seemed to be everywhere at once, taking whatever regions he could from his former comradesinarms, especially antigonus, until the latters defeat at ipsus in 301 bce a victory largely resulting from seleucus use of war elephants he had received from chandragupta by treaty. Seleucia was founded by seleucus nicator, a general of alexander the great who, after the death of alexander in 323 bc, secured for himself the middle east from the mediterranean to india. Syria seleucus i amazing bible timeline with world history. Seleucus macedonian general who accompanied alexander the great into asia. Denomination d seleucus ii callinicus son of antiochus ii.
He was married to apama i queen of the seleucid empire queen of the seleucid empire, they had 2 children. The book description for ancient antioch is currently unavailable. Antioch, the capital of syria, royal seat of the seleucid kings, was a few m. From 308 seleucus concentrated on the eastern borders of his empire, where he was involved in a war with chandragupta, the mauryan ruler.
The authors approach this important and successful state from new perspectives, seeing it as part of the middle eastern world rather than solely in grecoroman terms, and. Seleucus founded a number of new cities during his reign, including antioch 300 bc and in particular seleucia on the tigris ca. His father, antiochus, had fought with alexanders father, philip, and so it is thought alexander and seleucus were around the same age, with seleucus birthdate about 358. It is said of him that few princes have ever lived with so great a passion for the building of cities. He reigned for only two years, and died mysteriously on a campaign against attalus of pergamum to regain asia minor. The empire created by alexander the greats general, seleucus, constituted the. Pdf in the hellenistic period, greek and near eastern traditions came into closer contact than. He noted that the tides varied in time and strength in different parts of the world.
A history of the hellenistic near east under the seleucid dynasty two volumes in one. An ancient greek name, in particular borne by the founder of the seleucid dynasty seleucus i nicator. Dynastic wars, 260145 bc mckechnie major reference works. Seleucus ii callinicus, died 225 bc, fourth king reigned 246225 of the seleucid dynasty, son of antiochus ii theos antiochus ii repudiated his wife laodice seleucus mother and married ptolemys daughter berenice, but by 246 bc antiochus had left berenice in order to live again with laodice and seleucus in asia minor. This legend told of seleucus divine siring by apollo, his escape from babylon with an.
An ancient city of mesopotamia on the tigris river southsoutheast of modern baghdad. Seleucia stands on the coast of syria in the ne corner of the mediterranean, some five m. Antiochus ii of seleucid empire amazing bible timeline. Seleucuss son and successor, antiochus i, entombed his fathers ashes in seleucia, initiated probably the posthumous cult of his father. Coins of the seleucid empire from the collection of arthur houghton. The seleucid empire was a hellenistic or ancient greek successor state of alexander the greats dominion. Coming from seleucia on the tigris, mesopotamia, the capital of the seleucid empire, or. Seleucus i nicator king of the seleucid empire seleucus i. Seleucus the babylonian, from the town of seleucia, who lived a. According to lucio russo, seleucus arguments for a heliocentric theory were probably related to the phenomenon of tides.
Seleucus ii article about seleucus ii by the free dictionary. For the years following the death of seleucus, in 2910 b. Seleucid coin with anchor, symbol of seleucid naval power. Ptolemy iii was welcomed at seleucia in pieria, and then at antioch with. King antiochus ii of the seleucid dynasty was the third ruler of this particular line of kings. Seleucus i nicator, macedonian army officer who founded the seleucid kingdom. At its greatest extent, the empire comprised central anatolia, the levant, mesopotamia, persia, turkmenistan, pamir and the indus valley primarily, it was the successor to the achaemenid empire of persia, and was followed there by the islamic caliphate rashidun empire conquest and. Seleucus himself was one of the macedonians who fought with alexander the great as he conquered persia and the western part of the indian subcontinent, from 334 on. Seleucus i conquered much of anatolia, and was preparing to invade macedonia, when he was assassinated. Seleucus of seleucia was a hellenistic astronomer and philosopher. Seleucus synonyms, seleucus pronunciation, seleucus translation, english dictionary definition of seleucus. Antiochus ii repudiated his wife laodice seleucus mother and married ptolemys daughter berenice, but by 246 bc antiochus had left berenice in order to live again with laodice and seleucus.
Seleucus definition of seleucus by the free dictionary. Wikipedia entry 32440 perdiccas, eumenes and seleucus are promoted to new posts following 32316 seleucus receives omens of his future royal power. This is a 1976 study of the organization and tactics of the seleucid armies from 312 to 129 bc. The decree refers to seleucus ii callinicus, who assumed power in the summer of 246. He also correctly theorized that the moon was responsible for tides. This lasted until some time in 3053, when seleucus surrendered the far east of his empire to chandragupta in return for five hundred war elephants in 305 seleucus finally adopted the royal title, following antigonus, who had made the move after the. In the struggles following the death of alexander the great, he rose from governor of babylon to king of an empire centring on syria and iran. During the struggle with egypt, he encountered a tyrant named. Radhwaniya from the tigris to the euphrates, about 50 m. He ended it as the founder of the seleucid empire, and came close to reunited alexanders empire under his rule. Seleucus was succeeded by his son antiochus i as ruler of the seleucid empire. Antigonus came to rule macedonia, with political hegemony over greece.
Afterwards, he founded, and built with great rapidity, the city of seleucia upon the tigris, at the distance of about forty miles from babylon, and had transferred. He and his brother and successor antiochus the great are referred to in daniel 11. Seleucid coins, part 1, will become an indispensable reference work for collectors, dealers, and scholars, including those in the fields of archaeology, history and art history. Seleucus i nicator king of the seleucid empire king of the seleucid empire was born about 358 in macedonia, son of antiochus i and laodice. In the years after the defeat at ancyra 237 bc, seleucus focused on rebuilding his domains, expanding antioch and suppressing rebellions in babylon. Ela fica localizada perto da borda oeste do oceanus procellarum, e a oeste dela esta a cratera eddington, quase plana e preenchida com lava. Chaldean astronomer who speculated that the tides were caused by the motions of the moon.
Book 5 is fragmentary and we lack his reflections on the earlier seleucids. Seleucia definition of seleucia by the free dictionary. The history of astronomy is the growth of mans concept ofhis world. He took perdiccas side immediately after alexanders death, but was later instrumental in his murder following the failure of the egyptian campaign. Emblematic at the start of this book of the possibilities and pitfalls of a hellenistic intellectual history linking greece and babylonia. Seleucus was the son of antiochus, a general of philip ii of macedonia, the. End of seleucus chronicle deciphered fragments of cuneiform tablets tracing seleucus last years livius. Dec 18, 2012 syria seleucus i one of alexander the great s generals was named seleucus, and he was a satrap or governor of babylon when king alexander died. Cambridge university press, apr 7, 2017 history 386 pages.
Seleucus had to besiege the city, which he eventually recaptured. Later authors speak of a manual of nautical astronomy made by. Seleucia synonyms, seleucia pronunciation, seleucia translation, english dictionary definition of seleucia. Seleucus i nicator began life as a macedonian noble and a junior officer in the army of alexander the great. Seleucus was the eldest son of seleucus ii and laodice ii. May 17, 2011 seleucus i nicator king of the seleucid empire king of the seleucid empire was born about 358 in macedonia, son of antiochus i and laodice. It will be welcomed by students, teachers, and all readers with an interest in hellenistic and middle eastern history. Seleucia, designed to serve as a port for antioch, was one of nine cities which bore the name of seleucus, the first ruler of the dynasty which ruled syria and adjacent territories from the beginning of the 3rd cent. The son of a macedonian noble, he was a close associate of alexander the great in his campaigns in the e. He located his new hellenistic city on the tigris, and it became the eastern capital of the seleucid empire. Zeus of alexander and of seleucus with apolloontheomphalos.