After Alexander

Jumping back west from our examination of Bactria and the Parthians over in the east, today we're back in west. Antiochus II made two marriage alliances which we haven't really discussed at length before. So, today, let's examine the marriages of two women called Stratonice- a sister and a daughter of the king.

Sources for this episode: 1) Bevan, E. R. (1902), The House of Seleucus (Vol. I). London: Edward Arthur. 2) Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 3) Lendering, J., Livius (2007, last modification 2020), Ariarathes III (online) [Accessed 01/08/2021]. 4) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Apama III (online) [Accessed 18/11/2021]. 5) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ariaramnes of Cappadocia (online) [Accessed 01/08/2021, 18/11/2021 and 22/11/2021]. 6) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ariarathes I of Cappadocia (online) [Accessed 22/11/2021]. 7) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ariarathes II of Cappadocia (online) [Accessed 01/08/2021]. 8) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ariarathes III of Cappadocia (online) [Accessed 01/08/2021]. 9) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia (online) [Accessed 18/11/2021]. 10) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Battle of Pelusium (343 BCE) (online) [Accessed 22/11/2021]. 11) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Berenice (Seleucid queen) (online) [Accessed 22/11 and 23/11/2021]. 12) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Demetrius II Aetolicus (online) [Accessed 05/08/2021 and 18/11/2021]. 13) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), List of rulers of Cappadocia (online) [Accessed 22/11/2021] 14) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Stratonice of Cappadocia (online) [Accessed 01/08/2021 and 18/11/2021]. 15).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Stratonice of Macedon (online) [Accessed 18/11/2021]. 16) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Suzerainty (online) [Accessed 22/11/2021].

It's time to welcome a new group onto the Hellenistic stage which we haven't really dealt with before but will have ample reason to in the future- the Parthians! As they were first mentioned in episode 41 in the context of the eastern satrapies, this episode is going to introduce them properly. Along the way, we'll also explore the battle of Gaugamela, welcome some familiar names back for one-episode cameos and jump forward in time a bit to discuss the foundation of the Parthian Empire under Arsaces I...

Sources for this episode: 1) Bloom, J. and Blair, S. (2001), Islam: Empire of Faith. London: BBC Worldwide Ltd. 2) Doughterty, M. J., ed. (2012), 100 Battles. Bath: Parragon. 3) The Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica (2016), Andragoras (online) [Accessed c.12/08/2021]. 4) The Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica (2019), Parni (online) [Accessed c.12/08/2021]. 5) The Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica (2020), Ten Thousand Immortals (online) [Accessed 17/10/2021]. 6) Ghirshman, R., Dresden, M. J., Bivar, A. D. H. and Young, T. C., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2018), ancient Iran (online) [Accessed c.12/08/2021 and 30/10/2021]. 7) Lendering, J., Livius (1996, last changed 2020), Parthian Empire (online) [Accessed 12/08/2021]. 8) Olbrycht, M. J. (2015), Arsacid Iran and the Nomads of Central Asia - Ways of Cultural Transfer. Chapter in: Bemmann, J., Schmauder, S. (eds)., Complexity of Interaction along the Eurasian Steppe Zone in the First Millenium CE. Bonn Contributions to Asian Archaeology 7. 9) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Arsaces I of Parthia (online) [Accessed 10/10/2021 and 27/10/2021]. 10) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Battle of Gaugamela (online) [Accessed 27/10/2021 and 30/10/2021]. 11) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), List of monarchs in Persia (online) [Accessed 10/10/2021]. 12) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), List of Parthian monarchs (online) [Accessed 10/10/2021 and 27/10/2021]. 13) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Parni [Accessed c.12/08/2021]. 14) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Parthian Empire (online) [Accessed 12/08/2021]. 15) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Spitamenes (online) [Accessed 03/10/2021]. 16) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Syr Darya (online) [Accessed 17/10/2021].

What with everything that's been going on in the western portions of the Seleucid empire, the last time we had a prolonged spell with the eastern satrapies was during the conquests of Seleucus I and his campaign against the Mauryans in episodes 7 and 8. This week, we're going to pan back round to those neglected provinces to see what's been going on there. While there, we'll also be laying the groundwork for an independent kingdom that is going to form part of the final arc of our narrative- the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom...

Sources for this episode: 1) Chisholm, H. (1911, eBook 2016), The Encyclopaedia Britannica (A-M): A dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information (11th edition, A-M). New York: Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. [Accessed 11/08/2021]. 2) The Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica (2016), Diodotus I (online) [Accessed 10/08/2021]. 3) The Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica (1998), Diodotus II (online) [Accessed 11/08/2021]. 4) Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 5) Rawlinson, G. (1869) A manual of ancient history from the earliest times to the fall of the Western Empire, comprising the history of Chaldea, Assyria, Media, Babylonia, Lydia, Phoenicia, Syria, Judea, Egypt, Carthage, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, Rome, and Parthia. Oxford: Clarendon Press. (eBook) [Accessed 02/03/2021]. 6) Young, T. C., Dresden, M. J., Bivar, A. D. H. and Ghirsham, R., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2018), ancient Iran (online) [Accessed 12/08/2021 and 19/08/2021]. 7) Author unknown, Our Baby Namer (date unknown), Diodotus Meaning (online) [Accessed 13/08/2021]. 8) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiochus Nicator (online) [Accessed 12/08/2021]. 9) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiochus II Theos (online) [Accessed 12/08/2021]. 10) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Arsaces I of Parthia (online) [Accessed 13/08/2021]. 11) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Diodotus I (online) [Accessed 10/08/2021]. 12) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Diodotus II (online) [Accessed 11/08/2021]. 13) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (online) [Accessed 10/08/2021].

For the first time since Antiochus I's flight westwards after his father's death in 281 BCE, we're going to see the Seleucids intervene in Europe and attempt to win back some territory on the other side of the Bosporus. Specifically, we're going to focus on Antiochus II's hostility with Byzantium (the settlement which will become Constantinople about six hundred years from now)- as well as a campaign fought in Thrace.

Sources for this episode: 1) Bevan, E. R. (1902), The House of Seleucus (Vol. I). London: Edward Arthur. 2) Ehrlich, B., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2021), Istanbul (online) [Accessed 01/08/2021]. 3) Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 4) Ilıev, J. (2013), The Campaign of Antiochus II in Thrace, History Studies International Journal of History 5(1): 211- 222. 5) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Cypsela (Thrace) 6) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Polyaenus (online) [Accessed 09/08/2021].

Round two of the scrap for Syria! Although my sources seem to be slightly uncertain about some of the details, the broad strokes of the conflict are agreed upon. So, today, let's discuss a conflict that will rage from the early to late 250s BCE- and which will also have implications for Antiochus II's rule in the east...

Sources for this episode: 1) Bevan, E. R. (1902), The House of Seleucus, London: Edward Arthur. 2) Bevan, E. R., Encyclopaedia Britannica (1911, edited by Hugh Chisholm), Seleucid dynasty. Available at: Wikisource [Accessed 18/06/2021]. 3) Bevan, E. R. (1927), The House of Ptolemy, London: Methuen Publishing. Available at: LascusCurtis [Accessed 08/02/2021]. 4) The Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica (check date), Antiochus II Theos (online) [Accessed 21/04/2021]. 5) The Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica (check date), Syrian Wars (online) [Accessed 30/07/2021]. 6) Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 7) Heinen, H., Encyclopaedia Britannica (check date), Ptolemy II Philadelphus (online) [Accessed 21/04/2021]. 8) Rawlinson, G. (1869) A manual of ancient history from the earliest times to the fall of the Western Empire, comprising the history of Chaldea, Assyria, Media, Babylonia, Lydia, Phoenicia, Syria, Judea, Egypt, Carthage, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, Rome, and Parthia. Oxford: Clarendon Press. (eBook) [Accessed 02/03/2021]. 9) Tunny, J. A. (2000), Ptolemy 'The Son' Reconsidered: Are there too Many Ptolemies? Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik 131: 83-92. 10) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiochus II Theos [Accessed 25/05/2021]. 11) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Nicomedes I of Bithynia (online) [Accessed 01/08/2021]. 12) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ptolemy II Philadelphus [Accessed 28/03/2021].

The Second Syrian War has begun! However, rather predictably, it will not simply be a contest between the Ptolemies and the Seleucids; the Antigonids are going to get sucked into the hurricane of battle as well. So, this week, we're going to recap the relationship between the Antigonids and the other major powers and discuss the alliance between Antigonus II and Antiochus II against their mutual enemy...

Sources for this episode: 1) Bevan, E. (1902) The House of Seleucus (Vol I.). London: Edward Arthur. 2) Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 3) Heinen, H., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2019), Ptolemy II Philadelphus (online) [Accessed 17/06/2021]. 4) Volkmann, H., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2019), Antigonus II Gonatas (online) [Accessed 15/06/2021]. 5) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antigonus II Gonatas (online) [Accessed 19/06/2021]. 6) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Battle of Cos (online) [Accessed 19/06/2021]. 7) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Demetrius I of Macedon (online) [Accessed 15/06/2021]. 8) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Demetrius the Fair (online) [Accessed 15/06/2021]. 9) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Seleucus I Nicator (online) [Accessed 15/06/2021]. 10) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown) Stratonice of Syria (online) [Accessed 15/06/2021]. 11) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Syrian wars (online) [Accessed 19/06/2021].

Around 258 BCE, a Ptolemaic prince rebelled against Ptolemy II in Ephesus. His rebellion, in conjunction with a self-made dynasty called Timarchus, would ultimately fail, although the details of the prince involved, events themselves and. However, if we sweep aside the murky veil of time, we can see that the events after the rebellion lead directly to the Second Syrian War...

Sources for this episode: 1) Bevan, E. R. (1902), The House of Seleucus, London: Edward Arthur. Quote: p.175. 2) Bevan, E. R. (1927), The House of Ptolemy, London: Methuen Publishing. Available at: LascusCurtis [Accessed 08/02/2021]. 3) The Editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica (2019), Antiochus II Theos (online) [Accessed 21/04/2021]. 4) Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 5) Heinen, H., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2019), Ptolemy II Philadelphus (online) [Accessed 21/04/2021]. 6) Tunny, J. A. (2000), Ptolemy 'The Son' Reconsidered: Are there too Many Ptolemies? Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik 131: 83-92. 7) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiochus II Theos (online) [Accessed 11/06/2021]. 8) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Condotierro (online) [Accessed 11/06/2021]. 9) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ephesus (online) [Accessed 11/06/2021]. 10) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Miletus (online) [Accessed 11/06/2021]. 11) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ptolemy II Philadelphus (online) [Accessed 11/06/2021]. 12) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Timarchus of Miletus (online) [Accessed 11/06/2021].

Today, we're going to return to a point we last covered in episode 27. Specifically, it seems that Ptolemy of Telmessus, the son of Lysimachus and Arsinoe II, is unlikely to have been elevated to co-king in Egypt. To find out why, we're going to have to uncover the life of the mysterious elder son of Ptolemy II and older brother of Ptolemy III, who had his shot at power before it all went wrong...

Sources for this episode: 1) Bevan, E. R. (1927), The House of Ptolemy, London: Methuen Publishing. Available at: LascusCurtis [Accessed 08/02/2021]. 2) Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 3) Tunny, J. A. (2000), Ptolemy 'The Son' Reconsidered: Are there too Many Ptolemies? Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik 131: 83-92. 4) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), 'Ptolemy II Philadelphus' (online) [Accessed 14/05/2021].

Despite not having as much trouble with Anatolia as his father, Antiochus II is still going to face a not-inconsiderable struggle upon his accession. This week, we're going to explore the Chremonideian War which kept Ptolemy II occupied until 261 BCE, and introduce some of the underlying causes of the Second Syrian War...

Sources for this episode: 1) Bagnall, R. S. and Derow, P. S. (2004), Greek Historical Documents: The Hellenistic Period (2nd edition). C. The Period of Stability (276-221): 19. Chremonides' Decree, Oxford: Blackwell. Available at: columbia.edu [Accessed 06/06/2021]. 2) Bevan, E. R. (1927), The House of Ptolemy, London: Methuen Publishing. Available at: LascusCurtis [Accessed 08/02/2021]. 3) Grainger, J. D., (2014), The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 4) Heinen, H., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2019), Ptolemy II Philadelphus (online) [Accessed 27/05/2021]. 5) Hornblower, S., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2020), ancient Greek civilisation (online) [Accessed 07/06/2021]. 6) Rawlinson, G. (1869) A manual of ancient history from the earliest times to the fall of the Western Empire, comprising the history of Chaldea, Assyria, Media, Babylonia, Lydia, Phoenicia, Syria, Judea, Egypt, Carthage, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, Rome, and Parthia. Oxford: Clarendon Press. (eBook) [Accessed 02/03/2021]. 7) Volkmann, H., Encyclopaedia Britannica (2019), Antigonus II Gonatas (online) [Accessed 27/05/2021]. 8) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Battle of Cos (online) [Accessed 27/05/2021]. 9) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Chremonideian War (online) [Accessed 07/06/2021]. 10) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Chremonides (online) [Accessed 06/06/2021]. 11) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Saronic Gulf (online) [Accessed 06/06/2021]. 12) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Syrian Wars (online) [Accessed 27/05/2021].

To get to know our new ruler, we're going to recap his life up until his accession in 261 BCE at the age of about twenty-five. In addition, I'm going to pan out for a bit and give a lightning quick summary of what the political situation is like in the eastern Mediterranean and the broader Hellenistic world. Then, next time, we'll plunge back into everyone's favourite pastime: war with Egypt! Well, it's something for Antiochus II to do...

Sources for this episode: 1) Bevan, E. R. (1902), The House of Seleucus (Vol. I), London: Edward Arthur. Quotes: p.169, 171, 172. 2) Rawlinson, G. (1869) A manual of ancient history from the earliest times to the fall of the Western Empire, comprising the history of Chaldea, Assyria, Media, Babylonia, Lydia, Phoenicia, Syria, Judea, Egypt, Carthage, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, Rome, and Parthia. Oxford: Clarendon Press. (eBook) [Accessed 02/03/2021]. 3) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiochus Hierax (online) [Accessed 25/05/2021]. 4) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiochus II Theos (online) [Accessed 25/05/2021]. 5) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Ashoka (online) [Accessed 25/05/2021]. 6) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Laodice I (online) [Accessed 25/05/2021]. 7) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Laodice (wife of Mithridates II of Pontus) (online) [Accessed 25/05/2021]. 8) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Manuel Erotikos Komnenos (online) [Accessed 28/05/2021]. 9) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Nabatean Kingdom (online) [Accessed 25/05/2021]. 10) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Seleucus II Callinicus (online) [Accessed 25/05/2021].11) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Stratonice of Cappadocia (online) [Accessed 25/05/2021]. 12) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Stratonice of Syria (online) [Accessed 25/05/2021].