A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

7i74 SELEUCUS, SELEUC US.
truce was concluded by the two brothers (as supposed by Droysen), there appears to have been in
fact a suspension of hostilities between them. (For
the history of these wars in particular, as well as
for the reign of Seleucus II. in general, see Niebuhr, /
KI. Schrifi. vol. i. pp. 276 —286; and Droysen,
vol. ii. p. 337-359, 410-429.)
It must have been during this interval that Seleucus undertook an expedition to the East, with J
the view of reducing the revolted provinces of
Parthnia and Bactria, which had availed themselves
of the disordered state of the Syrian empire to COIN OF SELEUCUSII.
throw off its yoke. He was, however, defeated by
Arsaces, king of Parthia, in a great battle which SELEUCUS III. (e'XAeVscos), surnamed CEwas long after celebrated by the Parthians as the RAUNUS, king of SYRIA, was the eldest son and
foundation of their independence (Justin. xli. 4), successor of Seleucus II. His real name was
and was soon after recalled from these remote Alexander, but on his father's death he assumed
regions by fresh troubles which had arisen in his that of Seleucus; the surname of Ceraunus was
western provinces. Froelich (Ann. Syr. pp. 30, given him by'the soldiery, apparently in de31) and Clinton (F. H. vol. iii. p. 313) have re- rision, as he appears to have been feebel both
presented him as himself falling a captive into the in mind and body. He, however, followed up his
hands of the Parthians: but it appears, from the father's plans, by assembling an army, with which
Armenian version of Eusebius (p. 167, fol. edit.), he passed Mount Taurus, for the purpose of disthat the passage of Posidonius (ap. Athen. iv. p. possessing Attalus of his newly acquired dominions
153) on which they rely as their authority, refers in Asia Minor. He was accompanied by his
in fact to Seleucus the son of Antiochus Sidetes cousin Achaeus, a man of energy and ability, but
(see Niebuhr, IK1. Schrift. p. 300). It was pro- the war was notwithstanding feebly conducted:
bably during the same period of partial tranquillity discontents broke out in the army; and at length
that Seleucus found time to enlarge his capital of Seleucus himself was assassinated by one of his
Antioch, by the construction of a new quarter of own officers, named Nicanor, and a Gaul of the
the city. (Strab. xvi. p. 750.) name of Apaturius. He could have been little
Whether hostilities with Egypt were ever ac- more than twenty years old at the time of his
tually renewed, or the truce between the two death, of which he had reigned nearly three years.
countries at once passed into a durable peace, we (Polyb. iv. 48, v. 40; Appian, Syr. 66; Hieronym.
know not; but it seems certain that such a peace ad Daniel. xi. 10; Euseb. Arm. p. 165.)
was concluded before the death of Seleucus (Nieb. From an inscription found at Seleuceia, on the
I. c. p. 287). On the other hand, the war between Orontes (Pococke, Inscr. Ant. p. 4, No. 18;
the two brothers broke out with fresh violence. Droysen, vol. ii. p. 520), it appears that the official
We have, however, little information of its events; title or surname assumed by Seleucus, was that of
and we only know that it was terminated by a Soter; but neither this, nor that of Ceraunus by
decisive victory of Seleucus in Mesopotamia, which which he is known in history, is found on any of
compelled Antiochus to take refuge with Ariamnes, his coins. The latter, indeed, can only be assigned
kingof Cappadocia. From thence he made his escape to him conjecturally. Droysen (lb. p. 521) has
to the court of Ptolemy; but that monarch being inferred, from the same inscription, that Seleucus
now desirous to maintain friendly relations with must have left an infant son of the name of AnSyria, detained him in close custody, from which tiochus, whose claims were passed over in favour
he only escaped to perish by the hands of robbers. of his uncle, Antiochus III.; but no other mention.Meanwhile Attalus, king of Pergamus, had ex- is found of this fact. [E. H. B.]
tended his dominions over the greater part of Asia
Minor, from which he had expelled Antiochus;
and Seleucus appears to have been engaged in an f + n
expedition for the recovery of these provinces,
when he was accidentally killed by a fall from his,
horse, in the twenty-first year of his reign, B.c. -.'c''" //J.
226. (Justin. xxvii. 3; Trog. Pomp. Prol. xxvii.; /
Euseb. Arm. p. 165; Droysen, vol. ii. p. 426.)
One of the last acts of his reign was to send a
magnificent present of corn, timber, and other supplies, as well as ten quinqueremes fully equipped,
to the Rhodians, whose city had suffered severely
by an earthquake (Polyb. v. 89). Seleucus had COIN OF SELEUCUS II.
married Laodice, the sister of Andromachus, by
whom he left two sons, who successively ascended SELEUCUS IV. (EAEvlEos), king of SYRIA,
the throne, Seleucus Ceraunus and Antiochus, after- surnamed PHILOPATOR, was the son and successor
wards surnamed the Great (Appian, Syr. 66; of Antiochus the Great. The date of his birth is
Polyb. ii. 71). His own surname of Callinicus, not mentioned; but he must have already attained
which was probably assumed after his recovery of to manhood in B. c. 196, when he was left by his
the provinces that had been overrun by Ptolemy, father in command of his forces at Lysimachia. in
is not found on his coins, which, as they bear no the Chersonese, with orders to rebuild that city,
dates, cannot be distinguished with certainty from which Antiochus designed, or affected to design, as
those of his soun. lE. H. B.] a royal residence for Seleucus himself (Liv. xxxiii.