Silver coin of
Antiochus I. The reverse shows Apollo
seated on an
omphalos. The Greek inscription reads
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ
ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ (king Antiochus).
Antiochus I Soter ( 324/323-262/261 BC reigned 281
BC - 261 BC) was half Persian, his mother Apame
being one of those eastern princesses whom Alexander
had given as wives to his generals in 324 BC.
On the assassination of his father Seleucus I in 281
BC, the task of holding together the empire was a
formidable one, and a revolt in Syria broke out
almost immediately. With his father's murderer,
Ptolemy, Antiochus was soon compelled to make peace,
abandoning apparently Macedonia and Thrace. In Asia
Minor he was unable to reduce Bithynia or the
Persian dynasties that ruled in Cappadocia.
In 278 BC the Gauls broke into Asia Minor, and a
victory that Antiochus won over these hordes is said
to have been the origin of his title of Soter (Gr.
for "saviour").
At the end of 275 BC the question of Palestine,
which had been open between the houses of Seleucus
and Ptolemy since the partition of 301 BC, led to
hostilities (the "First Syrian War"). It had been
continuously in Ptolemaic occupation, but the house
of Seleucus maintained its claim.
Erasistratos examines the pulse of Antiochus I
Soter, on the right side Stratonice of Syria
War did not materially change the outlines of the
two kingdoms, though frontier cities like Damascus
and the coast districts of Asia Minor might change
hands.
About 262 BC Antiochus tried to break the growing
power of Pergamum by force of arms, but suffered
defeat near Sardis and died soon afterwards (262
BC). His eldest son Seleucus, who had ruled in the
east as viceroy from 275 BC(?) till 268/267 BC, was
put to death in that year by his father on the
charge of rebellion. He was succeeded (261 BC) by
his second son Antiochus II Theos.
- Seleucid Ruler 281 - 261 BC
- Preceded by: Seleucus I
- Succeeded by: Antiochus II
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