Syrian Wars

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The Syrian Wars were a series of six wars between the Seleucid Empire and the Ptolemaic Egypt during the 3rd century BC over the region of Coele-Syria, one of the few avenues into Egypt.

First Syrian War (274-271)

A decade into his rule, Ptolemy II faced Antiochus I, the Seleucid king. Ptolemy proved to be a forceful ruler and skilled general. In addition, his recent marriage to his court-wise sister Arsinoe had stabilized the volatile Egyptian court, allowing Ptolemy to successfully carry out the campaign. Some feminist interpretations of history even claim that it was Arsinoe's brains and talent which won the war.

The First Syrian War was a major victory for the Ptolemies. Antiochus took the Ptolemaic controlled areas in coastal Syria and southern Anatolia in his initial rush. Ptolemy reconquered these territories by 271, extending Ptolemaic rule as far as Caria and into most of Cilicia.

With Ptolemy's eye focused eastward, his half-brother Magas declared his province of Cyrenaica to be independent. It would remain independent until 250, when it was reabsorbed into the Ptolemaic Kingdom.

Second Syrian War

Antiochus II succeeded his father in 261, and thus began a new war for Syria.

Effects of the Syrian Wars

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See also

• Seleucid Empire
• Ptolemaic Egypt
• Antiochus III

Sources and further reading

Green, Peter. Alexander to Actium: The Historical Evolution of the Hellenistic Age. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990.