Antiochus VIII, known by the epithets Epiphanes (“God-Manifest”), Callinicus (“Beautiful Victor”), and Philometor (“Mother-Loving”), though popularly nicknamed Grypus (“Hook-Nose”), was the nineteenth Seleucid king, ruling essentially Syria as a rump state as the great Seleucid Empire had gradually declined to Syrian borders. Crowned as a boy, as he aged Antiochus VIII cultivated an image of decadency, luxury, and divine favor, despite the obvious shortcomings and issues of the Seleucid Empire at the time. His sons would fight over the rule of Syria, stimulating the decay of the Seleucids.
Coin depicting Antiochus VIII Grypus
Prior to Antiochus’ birth, the Seleucid Empire had sustained a major decline in power and authority, stemming from civil war and external threats. Ever since the death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid Empire had been in an almost frequent state of civil war, whether it be from cousins and brothers fighting for the throne or the establishment of pretender kings. Also, rival powers had increasingly grown stronger and more able than the Seleucids, most notably the expansion of the Parthian Empire and the pressures put on by the Roman Republic. Rebellions in provinces had as well hindered Seleucid control, as Judaea had become completely independent. The Parthians had claimed Mesopotamia and the Persian plateau as their own, restricting Seleucid influence exclusively to Syria.
Antiochus was the son of Demetrius II Nicator (“the Victor”) and Cleopatra Thea (“the Goddess”); his birthdate is unknown, though some had suggested the year 141 BCE. His father, Demetrius, assumed the Seleucid throne in 146 BCE with the backing of Pharaoh Ptolemy VI Philometor. The Egyptian king forced his daughter, Cleopatra, to divorce the pretender king Alexander I Balas (“Lord”), who had then been defeated by Demetrius in the Battle of Antioch (145 BCE). Demetrius proved to be an aspiring but fundamentally unsuccessful and reckless king, desiring to reclaim past Seleucid provinces which had been ruled by the Parthians. Demetrius was not a popular king, being seen as a puppet of Ptolemy VI’s inclination. The citizens of Syrian Antioch rebelled against Demetrius’ rule, urged on by the actions of the Seleucid general Diodotus Tryphon (“the Magnificent, Luxurious, Arrogant”) who had proclaimed Antiochus VI Dionysus (“God of Wine”), the young son of Alexander and Cleopatra, as king. Diodotus conquered Antioch, the Seleucid capital, and the rival king Antiochus VI was regarded as the legitimate Seleucid ruler. However, the child Antiochus did not rule in his own right, being used as a figure-head of Diodotus. In 141 BCE Antiochus VI died, presumably killed on Diodotus’ orders, who then claimed the Seleucid kingship as his own.
In 139 BCE Demetrius launched a campaign against the ever-active Parthians, but this resulted in his imprisonment by them and the loss of Babylonia. With Demetrius detained by the Parthians, this motivated his brother Antiochus VII Euergetes (“the Benefactor”), nicknamed Sidetes (“from Side”), to take the throne, marrying Cleopatra with who he had several children. Antiochus VII successfully campaigned against Diodotus, who was either executed or committed suicide. By 130 BCE Antiochus initiated a campaign against the Parthians to reconquer old Seleucid territory, wishing to restore the Seleucid Empire to its former glory. The Parthian King Phraates II released Demetrius from captivity hoping the brothers would wage war against each other, as Antiochus was gaining much ground in his military expedition. However, Antiochus VII died on the battlefield before Demetrius could contact him. Demetrius safely returned to Syria and resumed his rule.
Demetrius learned of the instability of Syria, many of his subjects detesting him for his cruelties, vices, and past humiliation. Knowing of his unpopularity, the Ptolemaic queen Cleopatra II dispatched an army to Demetrius in the effort to stir up war between him and her brother Ptolemy VIII Euergetes (nicknamed Physcon – “Potbelly”). Cleopatra II’s troops, however, proved disloyal and adhered to Ptolemy VIII, who then set up a pretender king named Alexander II Zabinas (“Purchased Slave”) against Demetrius. In 126 BCE Demetrius was defeated in a skirmish at Damascus, prompting him to flee to the city of Ptolemais where his wife Cleopatra Thea resided. Cleopatra, however, closed the gates to him, forcing him to flee to Tyre where he was killed. Alexander II ruled parts of Syria, but was not ultimately recognized as the legitimate sovereign. Cleopatra crowned her eldest son by Demetrius, Seleucus V Philometor, ruling as regnant. In 125 BCE Cleopatra had Seleucus killed, possibly because Seleucus intended to rule without her authority or because he perchance wanted to avenge his father who had been betrayed by Cleopatra, which frightened her. Cleopatra then crowned the teenage Antiochus VIII, defining herself as his co-ruler.
Coin depicting Antiochus VII Grypus and Cleopatra Thea as co-rulers
Cleopatra Thea, an ambitious and unpleasant woman, became wary of her son Antiochus as he displayed an attitude of independence from her guidance. By 123 BCE Antiochus defeated the pretender Alexander II, and now seized control of the Seleucid Empire in his own name and sovereignty. Antiochus had married the Ptolemaic princess Tryphaena, promoting her as the true queen of the Seleucid Empire, which invoked a hostile reaction from his mother. In 121 BCE Cleopatra decided that her son must die, prompting her to poison a cup of wine which she offered him when he returned from a hunt. Suspicious of his mother’s kind gesture, Antiochus forced Cleopatra to drink the wine, which killed her.
For the next five years Antiochus developed an image of a luxurious and hedonistic ruler, hosting lavish banquets and fostering an essence of royal magnificence. Stories claim that after splendid parties Antiochus sent food home with his guests who had attended, along with beasts of burden and attendants. Antiochus’ feasts and magnanimous character were of a conscious image, as Antiochus wanted to display the Seleucid Empire as being bountiful and opulent, despite the obvious harsh reality. Antiochus strove to invoke the Hellenistic idea of Tryphe (“Extravagance” or “the Good Life”), trying to reform the image of the Seleucids as prolific lavish monarchs, instead of the impression of a quarrelling royal family. Another aspect of Antiochus’ image was his appeal to be divinely favored and essentially divine himself, taking the epithet Epiphanes – “God-Manifest”, encouraging the portrayal as the supreme god incarnate of the Seleucid Empire. Antiochus VIII proved to be a very popular king, with his decadence and grandiose persona attracting Syrian subjects to his court just to experience the luxury illustrated. Though, this continued extravagance heavily depleted the royal treasury. The unsightly, lazy appearance of Antiochus on coins gave him a relatable character, much unlike the idealized portraits of previous Seleucid rulers.
In 116 BCE Antiochus’ half-brother (son of Antiochus VII), also named Antiochus, challenged his rule of Syria. Having lived in exile, when he returned to Syria he proclaimed himself Antiochus IX Eusebes (“the Pious”), though he was nicknamed Cyzicenus (“from Cyzicus”). Antiochus IX had married Ptolemaic queen Cleopatra IV, sister of Antiochus VIII’s wife, who had recently been divorced from her husband and brother Ptolemy IX Soter (“the Savior”), also known as Lathyros (“Chickpea”). This marriage supplied Antiochus IX with an army, which he then used to occupy southern Syria. Antiochus IX then seized Antioch, though in 112 BCE he was compelled to flee as Antiochus VIII’s army hounded him throughout Syria. Antiochus VIII then laid siege to Antioch, knowing Cleopatra IV still held control of the city and its garrison. Antiochus had brought his wife Tryphaena with him, and when the city was breached Cleopatra hid at the sanctuary of Daphne. Tryphaena hated her sister Cleopatra, demanding she be executed. Over the protests of her husband, Tryphaena ordered the soldiers to kill Cleopatra, which was seen as dramatic. A year later, Typhaena was imprisoned by Antiochus IX after he had defeated Antiochus VIII in a battle. She was then executed, used as a sacrifice to the deified soul of Cleopatra IV. Antiochus VIII would marry again in 103/102 BCE; his new wife Cleopatra Selene I, a sister of Tryphaena.
By 110 BCE both Seleucid kings sought allies in Egypt, Antiochus VIII pleading to the new Ptolemaic king Ptolemy X Alexander. Meanwhile, Antiochus IX won the support of the deposed king Ptolemy IX. It appears Antiochus VIII also won the approval of Rome, furthering his cause of rightful kingship. The city of Antioch would persistently change its loyalties, as the city had become the battleground for the civil war. Thoroughly exhausted, the Seleucid kings decided to divide Syria between them, Antiochus VIII taking the north while Antiochus IX held the south. In 96 BCE Antiochus VIII was murdered by his minister Heracleon, who then tried to usurp the throne but failed, presumably due to the presence of Antiochus’ sons.
The decaying Seleucid Empire now belonged to Antiochus IX, who then immediately married the widowed Cleopatra Selene. However, his sole rule would not last as the eldest son Antiochus VIII then crowned himself Seleucus VI Epiphanes. Antiochus IX was killed in battle, and the blood feud would continue with his son and the sons of Antiochus VIII. Antiochus’ sons would all declare themselves kings in time, but they practically held no real power as Syria was essentially a buffer state to be used by the major powers of the Mediterranean.
Antiochus VIII was the last Seleucid king to hold any actual power, for a short time, and was also the last Seleucid to be popular and loved amongst his subjects, for the enduring Seleucids were simply warlords whose ambitions did not reflect reality. Antiochus used his power to portray an empire and court of an age long past. He wished to bring prestige and splendor to the Seleucid Empire once again, as in the days of Seleucus the Victor and Antiochus the Great.
Recommended Reading:
The House of Seleucus, E.R. Bevan
History of Rome (“Syrian Wars”), Appian
Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus, Justin
Michael's Desk 