Stratonice of Syria

Stratonice
Antiochus I and Stratonice by Jacques-Louis David (1774)
Queen consort of the Seleucid Empire
Tenure 300–294 BC
281–268 BC
Coronation 300 BC at Rhosus, on the Pierian coast in Macedonia
Born c. 317 BC
Died c. 268 BC
Spouse Seleucus I Nicator (300–294 BC)
Antiochus I Soter (294–268 BC)
Issue
Father Demetrius Poliorcetes
Mother Phila

Stratonice (Greek: Στρατoνίκη) of Syria was Greek Queen of the Seleucid Empire from 300 BC until 294 BC and from 281 BC until 268 BC.

Biography

Stratonice (Greek: Στρατoνίκη) of Syria was the daughter of king Demetrius Poliorcetes and Phila, the daughter of Antipater. In 300 BC, at which time she could not have been more than seventeen years of age, her hand was solicited by Seleucus, king of Syria. She was conducted by her father Demetrius to Rhosus, on the Pierian coast (in Macedonia), where her nuptials were celebrated.[1] Notwithstanding the disparity of their ages, she appears to have lived in perfect harmony with the old king for some years. They already had one child, a daughter Phila, when it was discovered that her stepson Antiochus was deeply enamoured of her.

In order to save the life of his son (which was supposedly endangered by the violence of his passion), Seleucus gave up Stratonice in marriage to him in 294 BC. At the same time Seleucus constituted Antiochus king of the eastern provinces.[2] It is believed that the union, which produced five children, was a prosperous one. Antiochus named the city of Stratonikeia in Caria after Stratonice.[3][4]

Stratonice's children

By Seleucus I Nicator:

By Antiochus I Soter:

References

  1. ↑ Plutarch, Parallel Lives, "Demetrius", 31, 32
  2. ↑ Plutarch, 38; Appian, The Foreign Wars, "The Syrian Wars", 59
  3. ↑ Strabo, Geography, xiv. 2; Stephanus of Byzantium, Ethnica, s.v. "Stratoniceia"
  4. ↑

Bibliography

  • Smith, William (editor); Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, "Stratonice (3)", Boston, (1867)
  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "article name needed". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
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