ANTI'OCHUS, a common Greek name, was borne by 13 kings of Syria, 4 kings of Commagene (a small country between the Euphrates and Mt. Taurus), and many other persons of note (see Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Raman Biography). A. Soter, the first of the Syrian dynasty, or Seleucidm, as they were called from their founder,was the son pf Seleucus, the general and one of the successors of Alexander. A. was the fruit of one of those marriages which Alexander celebrated at Susa between his generals and. the princesses of Persia. His mother's name was Apama. From this fact we gather that A. was probably born in 324 B.C. For the earlier career of A., see SELEUCtiS. On the murder of his father in 280 D.C., A. succeeded him in hie :dominions, but he after wards permitted Antigonus Gonatas to retain possession of Macedonia on his marrying Phila, a daughter of Seleucus. A. was much occupied in wars with the Gauls, who invaded Asia Minor, and, on one occasion, is said to have gained a victory over them by the help of his elephants, from which circrunstauce he derived the name of Soter (savior). Ile was subsequently killed in a battle with the Gauls (261 Re.), and was succeeded by his son A. II. This A. is mentioned in the book of Daniel (xi. 6) as the king of the north—the king of the south being Ptolemy, whose daughter, Berenice, A. had been compelled to marry. On the death of Ptolemy, A. recalled his former wife, Laodice; but she, in revenge for the insult which she had received, caused A. to be murdered, along with Berenice and her son. A. lost the provinces of Parthin and Bactria.
But the most distinguished of the Seleuckhe was A. III., surnamed the Great, who
was the son of Seleucus Callinicus, and grandson of the preceding. In his earlier wars with Ptolemy, Philopator A. was generally successful; and though he was defeated in a great battle fought near Gaza, lie afterwards, by his victory over the Egyptian general, Scopas, obtained entire possession of Palestine and Cmle-Syria. In this war he was assisted by the Jews, to whom he granted many privileges. Fearing the power of the Romans, A. at length concluded a peace with Egypt, betrothed his daughter Cleopatra to the young king Ptolemy, and gave her Cmle-Syria and Palestine as a dowry. The formidable enemy which he thus hoped to escape encountered him at a later period of his career. Having conquered Philip of Macedonia, the Romans no longer dreaded a war with A., and accordingly sent him an embassy, demanding the surrender of the Thracian Chersonese, and of the places which he had conquered from Ptolemy, whose guardian the Romans had become. In 191 B.C., he was entirely defeated by the consul Acilius Glabrio at Therrnopylm, and compelled to return to Asia. Having a second time tried the fortune of war, be was defeated by Scipio, who had crossed over into Asia, and very severe terms were imposed on him. Ile found so much difficulty in raising money to pay the tribute the Romans demanded, that he was led to plunder a temple in Elymais, when the people rose against him, and killed him (187 n.e.). The fate of A. was foretold in the book of Daniel (xi. 18, 19).