Coin of
Antiochus II. The Greek inscription
reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ
ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ (king Antiochus).
Antiochus II Theos (286–-246 BC; reigned 261–-246
BC) succeeded his father Antiochus I Soter as head
of the Seleucid dynasty on 261 BC. He was the son of
Antiochus I and princess Stratonice, the daughter of
Demetrius Poliorcetes
He inherited a state of war with Egypt, which was
fought along the coasts of Asia Minor (the "Second
Syrian War"). Antiochus also made some attempt to
get a footing in Thrace. During the war he was given
the title "Theos" which means "God" in Greek.
In Bactria, his satrap Diodotus revolted in 255 BC,
and founded the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, which
further expanded in India in 180 BC to form the
Greco-Indian kingdom . Then about 250 BC, Arsaces
led a revolt of the Parthians, which deprived him of
those territories.
About this time, Antiochus made peace with Ptolemy
II, ending the Second Syrian War. Antiochus
repudiated his wife Laodice and married Ptolemy's
daughter Berenice to seal their treaty, but by 246
BC Antiochus had left Berenice and her infant son in
Antioch to live again with Laodice in Asia Minor.
Laodice poisoned him and proclaimed her son Seleucus
II Callinicus king.
- Seleucid Ruler 261–246 BC
- Preceded by Antiochus I Soter :
- Succeeded by: Seleucus II, In Bactria:
Diodotus (Greco-Bactrian kingdom), In Parthia:
Arsaces I (Parthian kingdom)
This article incorporates text from the public
domain 1911 Encyclopędia Britannica.
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