Greek-Syria Antiochus VII (138-129 BCE) Tetradrachm (undated) AU
ΔI monogram over “A” in left field, inner right field “A”
16.5 g silver, 28 mm
Comparable BMC 19; Hoover HGC 1067; SC 2076; Babelon (Rois de Syrie) 1142
Comparable SMA 284, Sear 7092 var
Provenance: NGC 1937243-032
Coppola Collection

Diademed head of Antiochos VII (right)
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEΡΓETOY (of King Antiochus, Benefactor) to right and left of Athena standing left, holding Nike and spear and resting left hand on shield at her side.

Antiochus VII: The Last Seleucid King

Antiochus VII Euergetes (nicknamed Sidetes), also known as Antiochus the Pious, was ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire for 9 years, from July/August 138 to 129 BCE. He was the last Seleucid king of any stature.

The Seleucid Empire occupied the area roughly encompassed today by southern Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq. It was ruled by the Seleucid dynasty, which existed from 312 to 63 BCE. The capital was Seleucia (305-240 BCE), approximately at where Baghdad is today, then Antioch (240-63 BCE), at the Syria/Turkey border, where there was a mint.

After Antiochus VII Sidetes was killed in battle, the Seleucid realm, which was already in disarray, was restricted to Syria.

The Seleucid Empire became a major center of Hellenistic culture, maintaining the preeminence of Greek customs where a Greek political elite dominated. The Greek population of the cities who formed the dominant elite were reinforced by immigration from Greece. But Seleucid expansion into Anatolia and Greece halted abruptly in the early 2nd century BCE after decisive defeats at the hands of the Roman army.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes [ruler from 175 – 164 BCE]

After the death from disease of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (215-164 BCE), who had taken the throne in 175 BCE in the midst of conflict with Rome, the Seleucid Empire became increasingly unstable, with frequent civil wars.

Antiochus V Eupator [ruler from 164 – 161 BCE]

Epiphanes’ young son, Antiochus V Eupator, was first overthrown by Seleucus IV’s son, Demetrius I Soter in 161 BC.

Demetrius I Soter [ruler from 161 – 150 BCE]

Demetrius I attempted to restore Seleucid power, but was overthrown in 150 BC by Alexander Balas – an impostor who (with Egyptian backing) claimed to be the son of Epiphanes.

Alexander Balas [ruler from 150 – 145 BCE]

Alexander Balas reigned until 145 BC when he was overthrown by Demetrius I’s son, Demetrius II Nicator.

Demetrius II Nicator [ruler from 145 – 138 BCE]

Demetrius II proved unable to control the whole of the kingdom. While he ruled Babylonia and eastern Syria from Damascus, the remnants of Balas’ supporters – supporting Balas’ son, Antiochus VI – held out in Antioch, to the west. In 139 BCE, Demetrius II was defeated in battle by the Parthians and was captured. By this time, the entire Iranian Plateau had been lost to Parthian control.

Antiochus VII Euergetes Sidetes [ruler from 138 – 129 BCE]

Demetrius II Nicator’s brother, Antiochus VII Sidetes, took the throne after his brother’s capture.

He faced the enormous task of restoring a rapidly crumbling empire, one facing threats on multiple fronts. In the winter of 130/129 BCE, his army was scattered in winter quarters throughout Persia when the Parthian king, Phraates II, counter-attacked. Moving to intercept the Parthians with only the troops at his immediate disposal, he was ambushed and killed. Antiochus VII Sidetes is called the last great Seleucid king.

After the death of Antiochus VII Sidetes, all of the recovered eastern territories were recaptured by the Parthians, and a civil war soon tore the empire to pieces, historically ending 50 years later in 63 BCE.