Antiochus (father of Seleucus I Nicator)
Encyclopedia
Antiochus was a Macedonian man that lived during the time of Philip II of Macedon
, who ruled from 359 BC-336 BC. He originally came from Orestis
, Macedonia.
Antiochus served as a military general under Philip II, who gained distinction as one of Philip’s officers. Antiochus was from an upper noble family. His father was probably called Seleucus, his brother was called Ptolemy
and probably had a nephew called Seleucus. Antiochus had married a Macedonian woman called Laodice
. Laodice bore Antiochus about 358 BC, a son Seleucus I Nicator
, who would became a general of Alexander the Great and later founded and became the first king of the Seleucid Empire
and a sister Didymeia
. It was pretended, in consequence of a dream which Laodice had, that the god Apollo
was the real father of Seleucus.
When Seleucus became king, he founded and named sixteen cities in honor of his father, these include the Syrian city of Antioch
(now situated in modern Turkey
) and the Seleucid Military Outpost, Antioch, Pisidia
. Through Seleucus, Antiochus would have thirteen Seleucid kings bearing his name and various monarchs bearing his name from the Kingdom of Commagene
. Antiochus would have various descendants through his son from the 3rd century BC until the 5th century and possibly beyond.
Philip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon "friend" + ἵππος "horse" — transliterated ; 382 – 336 BC), was a king of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III.-Biography:...
, who ruled from 359 BC-336 BC. He originally came from Orestis
Orestis (region)
For the modern municipality, see OrestidaOrestis was a region of Upper Macedonia, corresponding roughly to the modern Kastoria Prefecture, West Macedonia, Greece. Its inhabitants were the Greek tribe Orestae...
, Macedonia.
Antiochus served as a military general under Philip II, who gained distinction as one of Philip’s officers. Antiochus was from an upper noble family. His father was probably called Seleucus, his brother was called Ptolemy
Ptolemy (son of Seleucus)
Ptolemy ; died 333 BC) son of Seleucus from Orestis or Tymphaia, was one of the select officers called Somatophylaces, or guards of the king's person; he combined with that distinguished post the command of one of the divisions of the phalanx. Ptolemy was from an upper noble family...
and probably had a nephew called Seleucus. Antiochus had married a Macedonian woman called Laodice
Laodice of Macedonia
Laodice was a Greek noblewoman and wife of Antiochus , a general of distinction in the service of Philip II of Macedon. She was the mother of Seleucus, the founder of the Seleucid Empire and Seleucus' sister Didymeia. It was pretended, in consequence of a dream which she had, that Apollo was the...
. Laodice bore Antiochus about 358 BC, a son Seleucus I Nicator
Seleucus I Nicator
Seleucus I was a Macedonian officer of Alexander the Great and one of the Diadochi. In the Wars of the Diadochi that took place after Alexander's death, Seleucus established the Seleucid dynasty and the Seleucid Empire...
, who would became a general of Alexander the Great and later founded and became the first king of the Seleucid Empire
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
and a sister Didymeia
Didymeia (sister of Seleucus I Nicator)
Didymeia was a Greek Macedonian noblewoman. She originally came from an upper Macedonian noble family. Didymeia was the daughter of...
. It was pretended, in consequence of a dream which Laodice had, that the god Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
was the real father of Seleucus.
When Seleucus became king, he founded and named sixteen cities in honor of his father, these include the Syrian city of Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
(now situated in modern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
) and the Seleucid Military Outpost, Antioch, Pisidia
Antioch, Pisidia
Antioch in Pisidia – alternatively Antiochia in Pisidia or Pisidian Antioch and in Roman Empire, Latin: Antiochia Caesareia or Antiochia Caesaria – is a city in the Turkish Lakes Region, which is at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Central Anatolian regions, and formerly...
. Through Seleucus, Antiochus would have thirteen Seleucid kings bearing his name and various monarchs bearing his name from the Kingdom of Commagene
Kingdom of Commagene
The Kingdom of Commagene was an ancient kingdom of the Hellenistic Age.Little is known of the region of Commagene prior to the beginning of the 2nd century BC. However, it seems that, from what little evidence remains, Commagene formed part of a larger state that also included Sophene...
. Antiochus would have various descendants through his son from the 3rd century BC until the 5th century and possibly beyond.