Seleucus VII Philometor
Seleucus VII Philometor | |
---|---|
Seleucus VII Kybiosaktes | |
King of the Seleucid Empire (King of Syria) | |
Reign | 83–69 BC (in opposition to Tigranes II of Armenia) |
Predecessor | Philip I Philadelphus |
Successor | Antiochus XIII Asiaticus |
Co-rulers | Cleopatra Selene (mother) and possibly Antiochus XIII Asiaticus (younger brother) |
Egyptian royal consort (possibly co-regent) | |
Tenure | Circa 57 BC |
Successor | Archelaus I of Comana |
Born | Unknown |
Died | Circa 57 BC (exact date unknown) Likely Egypt |
Spouse | Berenice IV (possibly) |
Dynasty | Seleucid |
Father | Antiochus X Eusebes |
Mother | Cleopatra Selene |
Seleucus VII Philometor (Greek: Φιλομήτωρ) or Kybiosactes (Greek: Κυβιοσάκτης), was a possible ruler of the Seleucid kingdom based in Syria. But his existence is disputed.
Biography
King of Syria
The last members of the once mighty Seleucid dynasty are shadowy figures; local dynasts with complicated family ties whose identities are hard to ascertain: many of them also bore the same names. Seleucus was unknown until recently. From coins issued by him and his mother, Ptolemaic princess Cleopatra Selene, it is presumed that he was her son by king Antiochus X Eusebes, and a brother of later king Antiochus XIII Asiaticus. He appears to have "reigned" during the occupation of Syria by Armenian king Tigranes (83-69 BC). In reality, only a few cities were loyal to the Seleucids during this period.
Some time after Tigranes had conquered Syria (83 BC), his mother travelled to Rome to have her sons recognized as kings of Egypt, but to no avail. They were there between at least 75 BC and 73 BC; recognized as "Kings of Syria", and "maintained a royal state".[1]
Co-regent of Egypt
The young boy-king is probably the same Seleucus who later went to marry a Ptolemaic princess called Berenice IV on an unknown date (a sister of the famous Cleopatra VII of Egypt) to become co-regent of Egypt,[2] but allegedly was murdered by the discontented bride for his lack of manners. He bore the derogatory name Kybiosaktes, the term for the foul-smelling work of cutting tuna fish.
Controversy
In 2002, the numismatist Brian Kritt announced the discovery and decipherment of a coin bearing the portrait of Cleopatra Selene and a co-ruler. Kritt read the name of the ruler as Seleucus Philometor and, based on the epithet, identified him with Cleopatra Selene's son, unnamed by Cicero. Kritt gave the newly discovered ruler the regnal name Seleucus VII, and considered it very likely that he is identical with Kybiosaktes.[3] But Hoover rejected Kritt's reading, noting that the coin was badly damaged and some letters were unreadable. Hoover read the king's name as Antiochus and identified him with Antiochus XIII.[4]
See also
References
- ^ E.R. Bevan, The House of Seleucus, London, 1902, p. 263.
- ^ "Berenice IV".
- ^ Kritt, Brian (2002). "Numismatic Evidence For A New Seleucid King: Seleucus (VII) Philometor". The Celator. 16 (4). Kerry K. Wetterstrom. ISSN 1048-0986. Archived from the original on 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ Hoover, Oliver D. (2005). "Dethroning Seleucus VII Philometor (Cybiosactes): Epigraphical Arguments Against a Late Seleucid Monarch". Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik. 151. Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH. ISSN 0084-5388.
Sources
- Heinen, Heinz (1968). "Séleucos Cybiosactés et le Probléme De Son Identité". In Cerfaux, Lucien; et al. (eds.). Antidorum W. Peremans Sexagenario Ab Alumnis Oblatum. Studia Hellenistica (in French). Vol. 16. Publications universitaire de Louvain. OCLC 876029154.
Seleucus VII Philometor Born: Unknown Died: Unknown | ||
Regnal titles | ||
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Preceded by | Seleucid King (King of Syria) 83 BC–69 BC with Cleopatra Selene I (83 BC–69 BC) | Succeeded by |
- v
- t
- e
- Ptolemy I Soter
- Ptolemy Keraunos
- Ptolemy II Philadelphus
- Ptolemy III Euergetes
- Ptolemy IV Philopator
- Ptolemy V Epiphanes
- Cleopatra I Syra (regent)
- Ptolemy VI Philometor
- Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator
- Cleopatra II Philometor Soter
- Ptolemy VIII Physcon
- Cleopatra III
- Ptolemy IX Lathyros
- Ptolemy X Alexander
- Berenice III
- Ptolemy XI Alexander
- Ptolemy XII Auletes
- Cleopatra VI Tryphaena
- Berenice IV Epiphanea
- Ptolemy XIII
- Ptolemy XIV
- Cleopatra VII Philopator
- Ptolemy XV Caesarion
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- Antiochus I Soter
- Antiochus II Theos
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- Antiochus IV Epiphanes
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- Demetrius I Soter
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- Antiochus X Eusebes
- Antiochus XI Epiphanes
- Demetrius III Eucaerus
- Philip I Philadelphus
- Antiochus XII Dionysus
- Cleopatra Selene I
- Antiochus XIII Asiaticus
- Philip II Philoromaeus
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