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Antiochus II Theos (286 –
July 246) was a Greek king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire who reigned from
261 to 246. He succeeded his father Antiochus I Soter in the winter of
262–61. He was the younger son of Antiochus I and princess Stratonice, the
daughter of Demetrius Poliorcetes.
Reign:
He inherited a state of war with Ptolemaic Egypt, the "Second Syrian
War", which was fought along the coasts of Asia Minor, and the constant
intrigues of petty despots and restless city-states in Asia Minor. Antiochus
also made some attempt to get a footing in Thrace. During the war he was given
the title Theos (Greek: "God"), being such to the Milesians in
slaying the tyrant Timarchus. During the time Antiochus was occupied with the
war against Egypt, Andragoras, his satrap in Parthia, proclaimed independence.
According to Justin's epitome of Pompeius Trogus, in Bactria, his satrap
Diodotus also revolted in 255, and founded the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, which
would further expand in India in 180 to form the Indo-Greek Kingdom
(180–1). In 253, in the aftermath of the Second Syrian War, Antiochus II
made peace with the pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus. He divorced Laodice and
married Ptolemy II's daughter Berenice, with the understanding that any
children born from their union would inherit the Seleucid throne. Although no
longer queen, Laodice was still a very powerful and political influential
figure. Antiochus gave Laodice various land grants throughout Anatolia which
are known through inscriptions; she owned a large estate in the Hellespont,
other properties near Cyzicus, Ilion and in Caria. In a royal record at Sardis
mentions her land titles were to be kept as royal land in disposal in grants or
sales. During her stay in Ephesus, Laodice continued numerous intrigues to
become queen again. By 246 Antiochus had left Berenice and their infant son
Antiochus, in Antioch to live again with Laodice I in Asia Minor. Laodice took
the occasion to poison Antiochus while her partisans at Antioch murdered
Berenice and their infant son. Antiochus was buried in the Belevi Mausoleum.
Laodice I then proclaimed Seleucus II as King. With his cousin-wife Laodice I,
Antiochus had two sons: Seleucus II Callinicus, Antiochus Hierax and three
daughters: Apama, Stratonice of Cappadocia and Laodice.
Relations with India:
An uncertain Antiochus is mentioned in the Edicts of Ashoka, as one of the
recipients of the Indian Emperor Ashoka's Buddhist proselytism: "And even
this conquest [preaching Buddhism] has been won by the Beloved of the Gods here
and in all the borderlands, as far as six hundred yojanas (5,400-9,600 km)
away, where Antiochus, king of the Yavanas [Greeks] rules, and beyond this
Antiochus four kings named Ptolemy, Antigonos, Magas and Alexander rule."
Ashoka also claims that he encouraged the development of herbal medicine, for
men and animals, in the territories of the Hellenistic kings: Everywhere within
Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi's [Ashoka's] domain, and among the people
beyond the borders, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Satiyaputras, the
Keralaputras, as far as Tamraparni and where the Greek king Antiochus rules,
and among the kings who are neighbours of Antiochus, everywhere has
Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, made provision for two types of medical
treatment: medical treatment for humans and medical treatment for animals.
Wherever medical herbs suitable for humans or animals are not available, I have
had them imported and grown. Wherever medical roots or fruits are not available
I have had them imported and grown. Along roads I have had wells dug and trees
planted for the benefit of humans and animals." Alternatively, the Greek
king mentioned in the Edict of Ashoka could also be Antiochus's father,
Antiochus I Soter, who arguably had more proximity with the East.
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