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THE HISTORY

OF

THE SELEUCIDE IN SYRIA

CHAPTER I.

THE SELEUCIDE TILL THE COMMENCEMENT OF THEIR UNION WITH THE ROMANS.

SELEUCUS NICATOR.

It has been seen in the History of the Macedonians, page 256, that, on the partition of Alexander's mighty empire, B. c. 301, Seleucus was established in Syria, Babylonia, and the eastern provinces. The era of the Seleucida, which commences with Seleucus, and takes its name from him, is, however, dated from the capture of Babylon, in the 117th Olympiad, or B. c. 312. It was dated thus over all the east, by Jews, Christians, and Mohammedans, in stating the numbers of the years. By the Jews, it was denominated, "The era of contracts," because they were compelled, when subjects of the Seleucidæ, to use it in all their contracts and civil matters. By the Arabians, it was called Taarich-dhul-Karnain, that is, "The epoch of the two-horned;"* and in the books of the Maccabees, "The era of the kingdom of the Greeks."

* This appellation does not refer to Alexander the Great, also styled Secunder-dhul-Karnain, or, "The doubled-horned Alexander." The question, therefore, has been asked, why Seleucus is denominated DhulKarnain, or, "The two-horned?" In eastern language and oriental sculpture, horns are used to denote kingly power, as in the books of Daniel and the Apocalypse they are emblematical of kings or potentates. This, therefore, would explain the reason why Seleucus was thus denominated; but Appian says, that he was so called from his great bodily strength; he being able to seize a bull, and stop him while in full career. Hence it is, that the statuaries represented him with two bull's horns on his head, which gave rise to the appellation.

Having recovered Babylon, Seleucus advanced into Media, and defeated and slew Nicanor, whom Antigonus had sent against him, and slew him with his own hand. After reducing that province, he marched through Persia, Hyrcania, Bactria, and other provinces west of the Indus, which he subjected to his sway. Meanwhile, B. c. 306, Antigonus and his son Demetrius, having assumed the regal title, Seleucus also styled himself king of Babylonia and Media. He then marched across the Indus to recover the Punjaub, out of which Sandrocotta had driven the Macedonians. In this enterprise he failed. Sandrocotta marched with a powerful and well-disciplined army to meet him, and Seleucus deemed it prudent to abandon the attempt of re-subjugating India, and to make proposals of peace. Accordingly, a treaty was concluded between them, by which Seleucus renounced all claims to the provinces of the Punjaub, conquered by Alexander, upon receiving 500 elephants from the Indian prince. See the History of the Macedonians.

But although Seleucus abandoned the conquest of the Punjaub, he had the sagacity to perceive that great advantages would be derived from establishing a commercial intercourse between his subjects and those of Sandrocotta-advantages that would more than counterbalance his loss of empire. Accordingly, he deputed the celebrated Megasthenes to the court of his Indian rival, who restored that commercial intercourse between Persia and India which had been almost destroyed by the Macedonian conquest. This was a judicious measure.

The band of commerce was designed

To associate all the branches of mankind;
And if a boundless plenty be the robe,
Trade is the golden girdle of the globe.
Wise to promote whatever end he means,

God opens fruitful Nature's various scenes:

Each climate needs what other climes produce,

And offers something to the general use;

No land but listens to the common call,

And in return receives supplies from all.—CowPER.

On the return of Seleucus from his Indian expedition, he fought, in conjunction with his allies, the decisive battle of Isus, which annihilated the power of Antigonus, and secured his own. See the History of the Macedonians.

After the battle of Ipsus, Seleucus marched into Upper Syria, and having made himself master of that rich country, he built the new capital of his recently acquired empire, on the river

Orontes, and called it Antioch,* after the name of his father Antiochus, one of the chief captains of Philip of Macedonia. He also built or embellished many other cities, the most important of which, next to the capital, were the two Seleucias,† one on the Tigris, and the other on the Orontes. Sixteen of the cities which he founded were denominated Antioch, whereof one, situated in Pisidia, is mentioned Acts xiii. 14, and is called "Antioch of Pisidia," to distinguish it from the others of the same name, and particularly the Syrian capital. He built nine, also, which he called Seleucia, after his own name; six in honour of his mother Laodice; and three in

* Antioch stood upon the left bank of the Orontes, about 300 miles to the north of Jerusalem, and twenty-three from the place where the Orontes discharges itself into the Mediterranean. It became one of the largest and most important cities in the world. It ranked third only after Rome and Alexandria, and from its magnificence it was denominated "The Queen of the East." In the time of Strabo, it consisted of four distinct quarters, each having a wall of its own, and the whole enclosed by a common wall. These quarters marked the successive additions which the city received from the time of Seleucus, the founder, to that of Antiochus Epiphanes. This may be taken to represent Antioch as it ap peared at the time when the believers in Christ received first the name of Christians within its walls, and when it received repeated visits from the apostle Paul, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and Epistles.

Antioch was a city of importance till Chosroes the Persian took it, and nearly levelled it with the ground. It was rebuilt by Justinian, and again became of importance, continuing so till the age of the crusades. After it was taken by the crusaders, A. D. 1098, it became a Christian principality, under the European conquerors of Syria. The sultan Bebars took it from the Christians in 1269, and destroyed its churches. It afterwards passed under Turkish dominion, whose despotic sway has obscured its glory. At the present day, the Christians have not a single church in it: they assemble for prayer in a cavern dedicated to St. John. Antioch still, however, exists as a town of some importance, although grievously declined from its ancient importance.

+ Seleucia on the Tigris became, soon after it was built, the metropolis of the east, whence Pliny, and Stephen of Byzantium state, that it was called Babylon. Seleucia on the Orontes, denominated Seleucia Pieria, to distinguish it from other cities of the same name, became also a great city. Strabo says that it was an impregnable city, and made free by Pompey, as appears from several medals by different emperors. Both these cities are now in ruins. Dust and rubbish are all that remain of their glory.

These were all denominated Laodicea. The principal stood about five hours' sail of mount Casius. This city, under the name of Ramitha, was famous for a temple of Minerva. In the days of Christianity, it be came a bishop's see, and it was still possessed by Christians when the crusaders invaded Syria. It was afterwards included in the empire of the celebrated Saladin, and it was subsequently conquered by Selim, and finally destroyed by an earthquake. At the present time, it is a miserable town, containing about 4000 inhabitants only.

honour of his first wife Apamea. Hence Seleucus is esteemed as one of the greatest builders of antiquity.

commerce.

The eighteen years of tranquillity enjoyed by Asia after the battle of Ipsus, says Heeren, prove that Seleucus was one of the few followers of Alexander who had any genius for the arts of peace. It was during these years that Seleucus was employed in building these cities, and extending his He also organized the home department of his empire into seventy satrapies. This was a wise measure in itself: but Alexander's maxim, "to give the satrapies to natires," was wholly forgotten by his followers, and the Seleucide were not long before they experienced the evil consequences of swerving from that practice. The empire was, indeed, preserved by Seleucus Nicator; but he paved the way for the dismemberment of his empire, by ceding Upper Asia, together with his consort Stratonice in incestuous union, to his son Antiochus.

Having spent all these years in tranquillity. Seleucus girded on his sword for war with Lysimachus of Thrace. This war was kindled by ancient jealousy, and fomented by family feuds. A battle took place at Curopedion, which cost Lysimachus his throne and his life: Asia Minor was annexed to the Syrian realm. B. C. 282.

Flushed with victory, Seleucus caused himself to be proclaimed king of Macedonia; but as he was marching into Europe, he was murdered by Ptolemy Ceraunus, B. c. 281, and with him the splendour of his kingdom vanished. See the History of the Macedonians, page 260.

The character of Seleucus is one of the most exalted of this dark age. Without mentioning his military skill, he distinguished himself by a love of justice and kindness, which endeared him to his subjects. He had a taste for polite literature, and was a great encourager of learning, taking great pleasure in the conversations of Erasistratus, and the celebrated Megasthenes. Having discovered the Athenian library

* The principal of these cities stood on the Orontes, and according to Strabo was a well-fortified city in a peninsula formed by the Orontes and a lake. At this place was a celebrated pagan temple, defended by its votaries against the Christians. It it now called Famich. The tract in which Antioch, Seleucia, Laodicea, and Apamea were found, was called Tetrapolis, or "The region of the four cities." The true name of the tract, however, was Seleucis, a name given it by Seleucus himself, in the spirit of the psalmist's declaration: "They call their lands after their own See Psa. xlix. 11. All the cities which Seleucus built in honour of his first wife were called Apamea.

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which Xerxes had brought into Persia, he sent it back to Athens.. By all ancient writers his name is mentioned with veneration. Plutarch tells us, that he used to say: "If men knew what trouble attends only the reading and writing of letters," (which in those days was deemed the indispensable duty of a king,) no one would accept of a crown, though cast at his feet, or think it worth taking off the ground." The cares of royalty are, doubtless, more than a counterbalance for all the honours that wait upon its train.

66

ANTIOCHUS SOTER.

Seleucus was succeeded in his kingdom by Antiochus Soter, who had for some time governed the provinces in Upper Asia.

The first step which Antiochus took, was to secure the eastern provinces where he resided, which he accomplished. After this, he endeavoured to reduce the western provinces. He sent Patrocles, one of his generals, over Mount Taurus, at the head of a powerful army, for this purpose, into Asia Minor. On his arrival, Patrocles marched against Heraclea in Pontus, with the design to render himself master of its rich territory. The Heracleans had formerly entered into an alliance with Mithridates of Pontus, and the cities of Byzantium and Chalcedon, against Seleucus; but they averted the storm of war by entering into a treaty with the general of Antiochus. Patrocles now led his army into Bithynia, where he committed great devastations; but the Bithynians having drawn him into an ambush, slew him, and destroyed his

army.

After the death of Sosthenes, (who defeated the Gauls, and governed the Macedonians like a king, though he never assumed the crown,) Antiochus of Syria, and Antigonus Gonatus, son of Demetrius Poliorcetes, formed pretensions to the throne of Macedonia, which their fathers had obtained successively. Antigonus first ascended the throne; but each of them raised armies and contracted alliances, the one to support himself in his new conquests, and the other to dispos sess him. Nicomedes, king of Bithynia, having espoused the party of Antigonus, Antiochus was unwilling to leave so powerful an enemy in the rear. Instead, therefore, of crossing the Hellespont, he suddenly poured his troops into Bithynia, which then became the theatre of the war. The forces were so equal, that neither party would presume to

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