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

772 SELEUCIUS. SELEUCUS.
paign which followed (B. c. 301), are very imper- kingdom by. Lysimachus, transported the seat of
fectly known; but it seems certain that the decisive war into Asia Minor; nor was it until the fugitive
victory of the confederates at Ipsus [LYSIMACHUs] monarch, hemmed in on all sides, threw himself
was mainly owing to the cavalry and elephants of into Cilicia, that Seletcus thought fit to take the
Seleucus, as well as to the skill with which he field in person. Even then he readily entered into
himself took advantage of the errors of Demetrius. negotiations with Demetrius, and even allowed
(Plut. Demelr. 29.) him to take up his winter quarters, during a truce
The removal of their common antagonist quickly of two months, in Cataonia; but his apprehensions
brought about a change in the dispositions of the were soon again roused, he fortified all the mounconfederates towards each other. In the division tain passes so as effectually to surround Demeof the spoil, Seleucus certainly obtained the largest trius, and the latter was at length, after various
share, being rewarded for his services with a great vicissitudes of fortune, compelled to surrender to
part of Asia Minor (which was divided between the Syrian king, B. c. 286. Seleucus had the
him and Lynimachus) as well as the whole of generosity to treat his captive in a friendly and
Syria, from the Euphrates to the Mediterranean. liberal manner; but at the same time took care to
Ptolemy, however, laid claim to Phoenicia and provide for his safe custody in the city of Apamea,
Coele-Syria, and the possession of these provinces, on the Orontes. (Plut. Deneetr. 44, 47-50; Poso fruitful a subject of dissension between their lyaen. iv. 9. ~~ 2, 3, 5.) Lysimachus in vain resuccessors, was near producing an immediate presented to him the danger of allowing so formibreach between the two kings of Syria and Egypt. dable an enemy any hope of escape, and urged him
Seleucus, indeed, waived his pretensions for the to put Demetrius at once to death: Seleucus intime; but the jealousy thus excited, was increased dignantly refused to listen to his proposals; and it
by the close alliance soon after concluded between is even said that he was really designing to set his
Ptolemy and Lysimachus, and Seleucus sought to illustrious prisoner altogether at liberty, when the
strengthen himself in his turn, by forming a ma- death of Demetrius himself, in the third year of
trimonial connection with Demetrius. His over- his captivity, prevented the execution of the plan.
tures to that prince were joyfully welcomed, the (Plut. Dem2etr. 51, 52; Diod. xxi. Exc. Vales.
two rivals met on the most friendly terms, and p. 561.)
the nuptials of Seleucus and Stratonice were ce- It is probable that Seleucus was influenced as
lebrated, with great magnificence, at Rhosus, on much by policy as by generosity in his conduct on
the Syrian coast. But even before the two princes this occasion: increasing jealousies between him
separated, the seeds of new disputes were sown and Lysimachus had long threatened to lead to
between them, by the refusal of Demetrius to yield an open rupture, and it was not long after the
to his son-in-law the important fortresses of Sidon death of Demetrius before the domestic dissensions
and Tyre. (Plut. Detretr. 31-33; Diod. xxi. in the family of the Thracian king [AGATHOCLES;
Exc. Vat. pp. 42, 43.) A few years afterwards, LYSIMAcHus] brought on the long-impendilng
Seleucus appears to have taken advantage of the crisis. After the death of the unhappy Agathowars which kept Demetrius continually occupied cles, his widow Lysandra and her children fled
in Greece, to wrest from him the possession, not for refuge to the court of Seleucus, who received
only of these fortresses, but that of Cilicia also. them in the most friendly manner. The general
IDroysen, vol. i. p. 572.) discontent excited in the dominions of Lysimachus
The empire of Seleucus was now by far the by this event, and the defection of many of his
most extensive and powerful of those which had principal officers, encouraged the Syrian king to
been formed out of the dominions of Alexander. It commence hostilities against him, and he accordcomprised the whole of Asia, from the remote ingly assembled a large army with which he inprovinces of Bactria and Sogediana to the coasts vaded the dominions of his rival in person. Lysiof Phoenicia, and from the Paropamisus to the machus, on his side, was not slow to meet him,
central plains of Phrygia, where the boundary and a decisive action ensued at Corupedion, B. C.
which separated him from Lysimachus is not 281, which terminated in the defeat and death
clearly defined. These extensive dominions were of the Thracian monarch. (Memnon, c. 8; Justin.
subdivided into seventy-two satrapies; an arrange- xvii. 1,2; Appian. Syr. 62.) This victory appears
ment evidently adopted with a view of breaking to have been followed by the speedy submission of
down the excessive power previously possessed by all the Asiatic provinces as far as the Hellespont;
the several governors: but notwithstanding this but not contented with this, Seleucus was desirous
precaution, Seleucus appears to have felt the diffi- to occupy the throne of Macedonia, which had
culty of exercising a vigilant control over so ex- been left vacant by the death of Lysimachus; and
tensive an empire, and accordingly, ill B. c. 293, after spending a few months in arranging the
consigned the government of all the provinces affairs of Asia, the government of which he now
beyond the Euphrates to his son Antiochus, upon consigned wholly to his son Antiochus, he himself
whom he bestowed the title of king, as well as crossed the Hellespont at the head of an army.
the hand of his own youthful wife, Stratonice, for But he had advanced no farther than Lysimachia,
whom the prince had conceived a violent attach- when he was assassinated by Ptolemy Ceraunus,
ment. (Appian, Syr. 55, 59-62; Plut. Demnetr. to whom, as the son of his old friend and ally, lihe
38.) had extended a friendly protection. His body was
In B. C. 288, the ambitious designs of Demetrius redeemed by Philetaerus, the governor of Perga.
(now become king of Macedonia) once more aroused mus, who, after paying him due funeral honours,
the common jealousy of his old adversaries, and sent his remains to Antiochus, by whom they were
led Seleucus again to unite in a league with Pto- deposited at Seleuceia on the Orontes, in a temple
lemy and Lysimachus against him. But he appears dedicated to his memory. His death took place
to have taken little part in the hostilities which in the beginning of B. C. 280, only seven menths
followed, even when Demetrius, driven from his after that of Lysimachus, and in the thirty-second