Antiochus II was a Greek king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire who reigned from 261 to 246 BC. He succeeded his father Antiochus I Soter in the winter of 262–61 BC. He was the younger son of Antiochus I and princess Stratonice, the daughter of Demetrius Poliorcetes.
He inherited a state of war with Ptolemaic Egypt, the "Second Syrian War", which was fought along the coasts of Asia Minor, and the constant intrigues of petty despots and restless city-states in Asia Minor. After making peace with Ptolemy II, he repudiated and exiled his wife Laodice I and married Ptolemy's daugther Berenike instead to seal the treaty.
When he eventually returned to Laodike and their son in 246 BC, she poinsoned him and had Berenike and her son by Antiochus murdered. She then had her own son by Antiochus, Seleucus II, proclaimed King.
He inherited a state of war with Ptolemaic Egypt, the "Second Syrian War", which was fought along the coasts of Asia Minor, and the constant intrigues of petty despots and restless city-states in Asia Minor. After making peace with Ptolemy II, he repudiated and exiled his wife Laodice I and married Ptolemy's daugther Berenike instead to seal the treaty.
When he eventually returned to Laodike and their son in 246 BC, she poinsoned him and had Berenike and her son by Antiochus murdered. She then had her own son by Antiochus, Seleucus II, proclaimed King.
Epithet: Theos ("the God")
(1)
Antiochus II
An
AR
Tetradrachm
struck 261-256 BC
in
Seleucia on Tigris
Obverse: Diademed head of Antiochus I right
Reverse: Apollo seated on omphalos left, holding arrow and bow; BAΣIΛEΩΣ // ANT_IOXOY, (HYP)_(ΠΩA)
Diameter:
28 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 16.95 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 16.95 g
http://numismatics.org/sco/id/sc.1.587.1c
SC I 587.1c, SNG Spaer 385-6, Newell ESM 180
(2)
Antiochus II
Obverse: laureate head of Apollo right (spiral hair)
Reverse: Tripod, anchor below BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANTIOXOY Σ/E left , (HPYΔ) right
Diameter:
17 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.46 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.46 g
http://numismatics.org/sco/id/sc.1.525.1
SC I 525.1; Newel WSM 1409; HGC 9 253a; SNG Spaer 360 var. (controls left); BMC Seleucid p. 15, 13 var. (same); SNG Cop 95 var. (same)
An
AR
Tetradrachm
struck 261-246 BC
in
Susa
Obverse: head of young Herakles wearing lion's skin right
Reverse: Zeus seated left, leaning on scepter, holding eagle; ΣEΛEYKOY // (TAYP) // (ΔYP) / BAΣIΛEΩΣ
Diameter:
25 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 17 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 17 g
in the name of Seleukos I
http://numismatics.org/sco/id/sc.1.603.3
SC I 603.3c; HGC 9, 235