After Alexander

The Roman and Seleucid fleets face each other at Myonessus, and the war swings decisively in favour of the Romans. Not only that, but Antiochus III retreats from Europe and the Scipio brothers cross into Asia. Oh dear...

Sources for this episode:

• Bevan (1966), The House of Seleucus (Vol. II). New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc.

• Livy (1983), Rome and the Mediterranean. Translated by H. Bettensen. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Lucius Cornelius Scipio (praetor 174 BC) (online) (Accessed 31/10/2025).

• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Myonessus (online) (Accessed 31/10/2025).
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Taurus Mountains (online) (Accessed 31/10/2025).

Polyxenides plays hide and seek with his Rhodian rival Pausistratus, and Antiochus III teams up with his son- now crown prince Seleucus- to attack the city of Pergamon.

Sources for this episode:

• Bevan, E. R. (1966), The House of Seleucus (Vol. II). New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc.
• Livy (1983), Rome and the Mediterranean. Translated by H. Bettensen. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.
• Smith; W. (ed.) (1867), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. In Three Volumes (Vol. 1-3.). Boston: Little, Brown, And Company.

Thanks to the influence of his brother Africanus, Lucius Scipio manages to get the war theatre of Greece assigned to him. On today's episode, we get to see cities fall into Roman hands and Rome set its sights on Asia- as well as watch Africanus be a very frustrating brother to deal with.

Sources for this episode:

• Livy (1983), Rome and the Mediterranean. Translated by H. Bettensen. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.

Fresh off his defeat at Thermopylae, Antiochus III retreats back to Asia. However, the bad news isn't stopping just yet. Let's head to Corycum to witness a sea battle- Gaius Livius and Eumenes II against Polyxenides. Here's hoping it all goes to plan for the Seleucids and... oh.

Sources for this episode:

• Bevan, E. R. (1966), The House of Seleucus (Vol. II). New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc.
• Livy (1983), Rome and the Mediterranean. Translated by H. Bettensen. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.
• Smith; W. (ed.) (1867), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. In Three Volumes (Vol. 1-3.). Boston: Little, Brown, And Company.
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Battle of Corycus (online) (Accessed 25/08/2025).
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Battle of Thermopylae (191 BC) (online) (Accessed 25/08/2025).
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Cherson (online) (Accessed 25/08/2025).
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Delos (online) (Accessed 25/08/2025 and 26/08/2025).
• Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), List of Roman consuls (online) (Accessed 25/08/2025).

On the site where the 300 made their stand against the armies of Xerxes I, a battle is waiting for Antiochus III. He may have managed to stroll through Greece fairly easily in 192 BCE, but 191 will see a dramatic reversal of fortune- and a crushing defeat thanks to the mountain-climbing abilities of Marcus Porcius Cato.

Sources for this episode:

TBA

The Aetolian League welcomes Antiochus with open arms. However, the rest of Greece is not quite as willing. Tune in this week to hear Livy's tales about diplomatic shouting matches, Greek cities staring down implicit threats made against them, and a possible Parthian cameo.

Sources for this episode:

TBA

Tensions continue to rise between the Roman Republic and Antiochus III. On both sides, others are pushing for war- Eumenes II wanting to expand his domain on the Roman side, Hannibal wanting revenge for the Second Punic War on the other. Seems like there's nothing for it but for Antiochus III to land in Greece.

Sources for this episode:

TBA

The Romans try to get Antiochus to recognise their hegemony over Europe, while allowing him dominance over Asia. However, Antiochus sees Thrace as his rightful birthright, and even a divide between Thrace and Greece into spheres of influence does not work. While Cleopatra I and Ptolemy VI get married in the background, the Romans and Seleucids are beginning to think war is the only option...

Sources for this episode:

TBA

Antiochus III attempts to stamp his authority on Asia Minor and makes the first overtures towards Thrace, just as Antiochus II and Seleucus I once did. However, he doesn't bank on the city of Lampsacus appealing to a little known state called the Roman Republic for help. Join us this week for diplomatic rowing, a rumour about the death of Ptolemy V and Rome trying to flex its muscles.

Sources for this episode:

TBA

I sat down with the wonderful Dustin and Meredith from the Alexander Standard to discuss Seleucus I, the Seleucid dynasty and diverse other topics from the Hellenistic world. Expect tales of Seleucus I handing his wife off strategically, Ptolemy VIII chopping up family members and Scipio humiliating a pharaoh. Oh, and the collective decision that Antiochus VIII may have needed rhinoplasty.