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Seleucid empire: Quick Facts

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Facts

Date 312 BCE - 64

Photos

Map highlighting the extent of the Seleucid Empire in orange, spanning from the eastern Mediterranean coast through Mesopotamia and into parts of Central and South Asia. Surrounding regions, including Europe, Africa, and major bodies of water like the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and Red Sea, are labeled for geographic context. A small locator globe in the top left shows the empire's position within Eurasia.
Map of the Hellenistic world around 188 BCE, showing the territories of the Ptolemaic, Seleucid, and Antigonid kingdoms, as well as independent Greek states, Hellenized non-Greek kingdoms, and independent territories. The map covers the eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, the Near East, and parts of Central Asia, with major cities and regions labeled.
Map showing Mesopotamia and surrounding regions during Seleucid-Parthian times, overlaid with modern political boundaries and country names. Ancient regions such as Osroene, Adiabene, Gordyene, and Characene are labeled in red, while major rivers like the Tigris and Euphrates and key cities such as Babylon, Seleucia, and Ctesiphon are marked within the present-day Middle East, including Iraq, Syria, Iran, and neighboring countries.
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Related Topics and References

Topics
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Major Events

Alexander the Great's Empire After the Battle of Ipsos
Battle of Ipsos
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Syrian Wars
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War of the Brothers

Related Places

Ctesiphon: Ṭāq Kisrā
Ctesiphon
ancient city, Iraq
Asia (Roman province)
Asia
ancient Roman province
Aspendus
Aspendus
ancient city, Turkey
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Thracian Chersonese
ancient region, Turkey
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Commagene
historical region, Near East
Dura-Europus: Temple of Bel
Dura-Europus
ancient city, Syria
Iran
Iran
country, Asia
flag of Iraq
Iraq
country, Asia
ancient Middle East
ancient Middle East
historical region, Asia
Pakistan
Pakistan
country, Asia
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Seleucia Tracheotis
ancient city, Turkey
Syria
Syria
country, Asia
Flag of Turkey featuring a red field with a white crescent moon and white five-pointed star.
Turkey
country, Asia and Europe
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
country, Asia
Rock formations in the Valley of Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey, with numerous openings showing abandoned cave dwellings and churches carved into the stone.
Cappadocia
ancient district, Turkey

Key People

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Jonathan Maccabeus
Jewish general
Seleucid king of the Hellenistic Syrian Empire
Antiochus III the Great
Seleucid king
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Antiochus IV Epiphanes
Seleucid king
Seleucus I Nicator
Seleucus I Nicator
Seleucid ruler
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Antiochus I Soter
Seleucid king
Ptolemy VI Philometor, portrait on a silver tetradrachm; in the British Museum
Ptolemy VI Philometor
Macedonian king of Egypt
Antiochus VII Sidetes
Antiochus VII Sidetes
Seleucid king
Attalus I Soter
Attalus I Soter
king of Pergamum
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Antiochus Hierax
Seleucid king
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Eumenes II
king of Pergamum
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Antiochus II Theos
Seleucid king
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Seleucus II Callinicus
Seleucid ruler
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Judas Maccabeus
Jewish leader
Demetrius I, coin, 2nd century bc; in the British Museum
Demetrius I Soter
king of Syria
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Seleucus IV Philopator
Seleucid ruler
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Euthydemus
king of Bactria
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Alexander Balas
king of Syria
Phraates II
Phraates II
king of Parthia
Demetrius II, coin, 2nd century BC; in the British Museum
Demetrius II Nicator
king of Syria
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Soter Seleucus III
Seleucid ruler