109- The Sixth Syrian War

Antiochus V's religious chickens are coming home to roost- Mattathias and his sons are VERY unhappy with the enforcement of Hellenistic religion in Judea. Today, let's watch the Maccabean revolt break out in 167 BCE- a journey which will end with Antiochus V trying to steal some ancient armour from a temple in Elam and Hanukkah being created.Sources for this episode:TBA

Antiochus V tries his hardest to unify Greek religion- and obviously the only way to do that is to declare himself a god- while also pushing eastwards to rebuild Seleucid strength. He will manage to get away with raiding the same temples his father died in, but that won't stop him dying in the east all the same...Sources for this episode:Africa, T. (1982), Worms and the Death of Kings: A Cautionary Note on Disease and History. Classical Antiquity 1(1): 1-17.Bevan, E. R. (1966), The House of Seleucus (Volume II). New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc.Lactantius (1766), A relation of the death of the primitive persecutors. Translated by G. Burnet. Glasgow: Robert and Andrew Foulis.Lorein, G. W. (2001), Some Aspects of the Life and Death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes: A New Presentation of Old Viewpoints. Ancient Society 31: 157-171.Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiochus IV Epiphanes (online) (Accessed 13/09/2026).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Elymais (online) (Accessed 13/09/2026).

Full disclosure: today's topic is one I've been looking forward to since I started the podcast back in 2020. Today, we witness Antiochus V shatter the peace with Egypt and resume the Sixth Syrian War, while Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy VIII attempt to settle their differences. All while a Roman diplomat gives us a very cool moment that allows us to make a pun on a UK-based school tradition...Sources for this episode:TBA

Good things come in sixes- or do they? Well, at least not in the case of Syrian Wars between the Seleucids and the Ptolemies. Let's watch Egypt collapse after a series of one-two punches and get embroiled in a civil war between Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy VIII. We will also see your friendly podcaster's pro-Seleucid bias shine through as he questions the decision-making of Antiochus.Sources for this episode:TBA

You might be hoping that the Seleucid Empire will finally experience a bit of peace and quiet. But not a bit of it. Perseus of Macedon finally initiates that war with Rome we've been foreshadowing for a while now, and Egypt gets antsy over the fact that Hollow Syria doesn't belong to them at the minute. Before you know where you are, the Sixth Syrian War begins...Sources for this episode:TBA

Vince here- I've written a historical fiction book set in Constantinople in 1081! Well, kind of. The first draft of the manuscript is complete at about 59,000 words across 34 chapters. I am planning to to do a reading of the prologue as it currently stands on this feed, and after that prepare the book for publication as an eBook. So, what I am here to ask you is- is this something you would be interested in? Please let me know at the show's email address. I would love to hear your feedback.

Antiochus V (otherwise called Antiochus IV) is officially sole king. Let's introduce his personality to the world- and explore the rather squeamish matter of his love life. Prepare for someone to get yet another husband...Sources for this episode:TBA

Yes, we are here again. The recap campfire hasn't even died down yet, but we've got to see off the boy we've come to know as Antiochus IV. Don't hold out hope for a long episode filled with glorious battles, fascinating detail and victory...Sources for this episode:TBA

There are three Seleucids left on our chess board. Mithridates- brother of Seleucus IV- is in Athens, having been released from Roman captivity. Demetrius, the eldest son of Seleucus, is in said captivity. And then there's Antiochus IV, the new king and younger son of Seleucus. Today, let's take one of those pieces off the board...Sources for this episode:TBA

Poor old Seleucus IV. Quite a contrast from the jam-packed reign of Antiochus III. But did he start out from a worse position- or did he not have that certain je ne sais quoi? Let's unpack that in his recap.Sources for this episode:TBA