Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/843

SELEXJCIA. 765 SELEUCIDiE. possession of Syria. Its once magnificent port is still in a good state of ])reservation, while the tunnel, loss yards in lenjith, excavated out of solid rook, and forniini; the only coniniuniontion lictwecn the eity and the sea, together with the remains of its triple line of walls, its eitadel, temples, amphitheatre, and neeropolis. attest the former importance and splendor of the city. Scleucus himself was buried there. In B.C. 246 the eity was taken by Ptolemy Euergetes, but Antiochus the Great recaptured it in 219. In lOS it gained independence, which I'ompey eon- firniod in 70. By the fifth century a.d. it had entirely decayed. (2) Sei.evcia ad Tiguim was also built by Scleucus Nicator on the west bank of the Tigris, about 40 miles northeast of P>aby- lon, which was despoiled to supply materials for the construction of the new city. Situated in a district of great fertility, and controlling the navigation of the, Tigris and Euphrates, as well as the commerce of Mesopotamia, it rapidly rose to wealth and splendor, supplanting Babylon as the capital of the eastern portion of the Seleucid monarchy, and containing in the acme of its greatness a population of more than 600,- 000. During the decline of the Seleucid monarchy it became independent, and attracted, because of its wealth and splendor, the robber tribes of Southern Armenia and Media, who par- tially plundered it on more than one occasion. It w-as burned by Trajan (a.d. 116), and subse- quently by Lucius Verus, and when visited by Septiniius' Sevcrus was desolate. (3) Sei.eucia Tracheotis (on the site of the modern Selef- kch) was also built by Scleucus on the west- ern bank of the Calycad'mis in Cilicia Aspera. It was a rival of Tarsus, and was the birthplace of several famous men, among them the philoso- pher Xenarchus. Its site is still covered with its ruins. (4) Seleucia was likewise the name of a city in the Persian district of Margiana, originally built by Alexander the Great, and called Alexandria. Antiochus I., wdio rebuilt it after it had been destroyed by the barbarians, renamed it in honor of his father, Seleueus Nicator. The Roman prisoners taken by the Parthians at the defeat of Crassus (q.v.) were colonized here. (5) Selei'CIA in JIe.sopo- TAMIA (modern Bir) was a fortress on the left bank of the Euphrates, opposite the ford of Zeugma. There were several other cities of this name, as that on the River Belus. in Syria; on the plain of Isparta, in Pisidia ; in Pamphylia, near the mouth of the Eurvmedon, and elsewhere; while the city of Tralles (q.v.) was at onetime called Seleucia. SELEU'CIDJE or SELEXJ'CIDS. The dynas- ty which ruled over that portinu of Alexander the fireat's monarch v which included Syria, a large portion of Asia jlinor, and the whole of the east- ern provinces of Bactria, Sogdiana, Persia, and Babvlonia. Seleueus I. Nicator (B.C. 312-C.280). the first of the line, was the son of Antiochus, a dis- tinguished officer in the service of Philip of Macedon. He had been one of the conspira- tors against Perdiccas, and in the second par- tition of the provinces constituting Alexander's realm. Babylonia fell to his lot. To this, with the aid of Antigonus. he added Susiana. but a misunderstanding arose between the two generals, and Seleueus took refuge in Egypt (B.C. 316). Four years later Seleueus returned to his sat- rapy, amid the congratulations of his aubjeofs. The date of Selencus's return to Babylon was the beginning of the era of the Seleueidu', which was employed by the Syrians and .sialic (ireeks until the liftecnth century. Kecovering Susiana, Seleu- eus subjugated .Media, and extended his power to the Oxus and Indus. Of his campaign against the Indian King Sandrocottus (q.v.) there are but few facts known. In ii.c. .'106 he assumed the title i)f King, and four years later be joined the confederacy of Ptolemy, J^ysiinachus, and Cas.san- iler against Antigonus, and by his cavalry and elephants decided the issue of the battle of Ipsus in Ii.c. 301 or 300 against his quondam ally, who was killeil in the fight. Being now the most pow- erful of -Vlexandcr's successors, lie oblaincil the largest share in the conquered kingdom, a great part of Asia Minor and the whole of Syria falling to him. In 203 he gave the provinces beyond the Euphrates to his son, Antiochus, who afterwards succeeded him. He afterwards waged successful wars against Demetrius, King of .Macedon, and Lysimachus. King of Thrace. He was assassinated aiiout B.C. 280 by Ptolemy Ccraumis. His son and successor was Antiochus 1. Sulcr ((•.2.S0I1I I. followed by his son Antiochus II. Theos (261-40), who was assassinated by Seleueus II. Callinieua (246-26). Seleueus II. was driven from his king- dom by Ptolemy Euergetes (q.v.). He recovered his throne on Ptolemy's withdrawal, and suc- ceeded in maintaining his hold on Syria and most of Asia Minor against both the Egyptians and his jounger brother, Antiochus, who at- tempted to exercise independent authority over part of Asia .Minor. Scleucus undertook an ex- pedition against the revolt<'d luovinccs of Parthia and Bactria, Init was routed by .rsaces the Great, the deliverer of Parthia, while in the west several provinces were wrested from him by Attains, the King of Pergamum. His sons, Seleueus III. Ce- raunus (220-23) and Antiocus III. the Great (223-187), were his successors. The latter was vanquished by the Romans at Magnesia in B.C. 190 and forced to relinquish a great part of Asia ilinor. Seleueus IV. Philopator (187-7.5) was eager to dispossess Attains of the provinces which he had taken, but fear of the Romans prevented him from carrying out his design. He was succeeded by Antiochus IV. Epiphanes (175- 164) , in whose reign the Jews rose under the Mac- cabees. The succeeding princes of the dynasty were Antiochus V. Eupator ( 104-02) : Demetrius I. Soter (102-SO), who was defeated anil slain by the impostor Alexander Balas (ir)0-46l; Deme- trius 11. Xicator (140-38. 128-2;")), who overthrew the inqiostor, and was himself a ju-isoncr among the Parthians for ten years. Syria having been seized by Diodotus. surnamcd Tryplio, who set up the imppet Antiochus IV. Theos (e.144-42). and afterwards ascended the throne himself { 142-37) : Antiochus VII. Sidetes (137-28), who restored the royal line of the Seleueidie. after whom Demetrius again reigned until his defeat by the pretender Alexander Sebina. his rule marking the loss of the original centre of Seleucian power to the Parthians: Antiochus VIII. firypus (125- 90). who was compelled to share his dominions with his half-brother, Antiochus IV. Cyzieenus from B.C. Ill: Seleueus V. or VI. Epiphanes (96-94). and Antiochus X. Eusebes (9.5-83). who continued the division until about B.C. 94. when the latter was victorious in a pitched bat-