Category:Seleucus IV Philopator (subject)
Seleucus IV Philopator was King of Syria, from 187 BCE to 175 BCE.
- This page is edited by Gabriele Boccaccini, University of Michigan
Overview
Seleucus IV Philopator was the son of Antiochus III the Great and Laodice III, and the older brother of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. In 187 he became ruler of the Seleucid Empire, after the death in battle of his father.
Seleucus IV married Laodice IV. Among their children were Demetrius I Soter (who eventually became king of Syria in 162 BCE after Antiochus IV Epiphanes and Antiochus V Eupator), and Laodice V (who married Perseus of Macedonia).
Ancient sources describe Seleucus IV as "inactive and weak because of his father's defeat" (Appianus, Syriaca 11), an unresourceful ruler who "had an inglorious death without making any war" (Jerome, Expl. Dan. 11). The defeat of Antiochus III the Great by the Romans in the battle of Magnesia in 189 BCE had created a dramatic situation. The Romans had imposed an onerous annual tribute and taken the young Antiochus IV Epiphanes as hostage. In 178 BCE Seleucus obtained the release of his brother but only by sending his own twelve-year-old son and heir Demetrius to Rome. The continuous and desperate search for money created a lot of discontent within the kingdom, while paralyzing the foreign policy of the Empire. Seleucus IV was unable to find a way out and fell victim of conspiracy by one of his officials, named Heliodorus (it is likely but not certain that he was the same Heliodorus whom Seleucus IV had sent as his deputy to Jerusalem).
Seleucus IV was eventually succeeded by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who avenged his brother but claimed the throne for himself, leaving his nephew (and Seleucus IV's son) Demetrius I Soter at Rome as hostage.
Seleucus IV and the Jews
As King of Syria, Seleucus IV was the ruler of Judea. When a certain Simon denounced the presence in the Jerusalem Temple of "untold sums of money," Seleucus immediately sent an officer of his, Heliodorus, to inquire. The mission, poorly prepared, was a complete failure. Seleucus had no legal basis to claim more money from one of his tax collectors than had been agreed upon. His patent underestimation of Onias III's power at Jerusalem led to comic result; the High Priest had the power to withhold payment and even took the liberty of beating, humiliating, and finally bribing the king's officer without fear of punishment. As Simon did not stop his accusations, Onias III appealed to Seleucus IV Philopator and went to Antioch. In the meantime the king was murdered by Heliodorus and the new king Antiochus IV Epiphanes appointed Onias III's brother Jason the new High Priest at Jerusalem.
Seleucus IV in Second Temple sources
Seleucus IV in Scholarship
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