Antiochus VII Sidetes
|
|
Antiochus VII Eumenes, nick-named Sidetes (from Sidon), reigned from 138–129 BC over the Seleucid Empire. He was the last Seleucid king of any stature. The brother of Demetrius II, Antiochus was elevated after Demetrius' capture by the Parthians. Antiochus married Cleopatra Thea, who was the wife of Demetrius. Their offspring was Antiochus IX, who thus became both half-brother and cousin to Seleucus V and Antiochus VIII. Sidetes defeated the usurper Tryphon and laid siege to Jerusalem. According to legend the Hasmonean king John Hyrcanus bought Antiochus off by digging up the treasures of King Solomon's grave. Sidetes then attacked the Parthians and briefly took back Mesopotamia before being ambushed and killed by Phraates II. His brother Demetrius II had by then been released, but the Seleucid Empire was now restricted to Syria.
| Preceded by: Diodotus | Seleucid Ruler | Succeeded by: Demetrius II |
de:Antiochos VII. fr:Antiochos VII he:אנטיוכוס השביעי no:Antiokus VII Sidetes zh:安条克七世