Seleucus V Philometor
Encyclopedia
The Seleucid
king Seleucus V Philometor (126
- 125 BC
), ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid kingdom
, was the eldest son of Demetrius II Nicator
and Cleopatra Thea
. The epithet Philometor means mother-loving and in the Hellenistic
world usually indicated that the mother acted as co-regent for the prince.
In 126 BC Demetrios II was murdered at the instigation of his wife Cleopatra Thea. Now she herself took power and soon also killed her oldest surviving son Seleucus V. Two different motives are given as reason for this deed: According to one version he had attempted to claim the throne without her agreement, according to the other version she was afraid that he might avenge the assassination of his father.
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
king Seleucus V Philometor (126
126 BC
Year 126 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lepidus and Orestes...
- 125 BC
125 BC
Year 125 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Hypsaeus and Flaccus...
), ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid kingdom
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
, was the eldest son of Demetrius II Nicator
Demetrius II Nicator
For the similarly named Macedonian ruler, see Demetrius II of Macedon. For the Macedonian prince, see Demetrius the Fair.Demetrius II , called Nicator , was one of the sons of Demetrius I Soter, brother of Antiochus VII Sidetes and his mother could have been Laodice V...
and Cleopatra Thea
Cleopatra Thea
Cleopatra Thea surnamed Eueteria was the ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. She ruled Syria from 125 BC after the death of Demetrius II Nicator...
. The epithet Philometor means mother-loving and in the Hellenistic
Hellenistic Greece
In the context of Ancient Greek art, architecture, and culture, Hellenistic Greece corresponds to the period between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the annexation of the classical Greek heartlands by Rome in 146 BC...
world usually indicated that the mother acted as co-regent for the prince.
In 126 BC Demetrios II was murdered at the instigation of his wife Cleopatra Thea. Now she herself took power and soon also killed her oldest surviving son Seleucus V. Two different motives are given as reason for this deed: According to one version he had attempted to claim the throne without her agreement, according to the other version she was afraid that he might avenge the assassination of his father.