Antiochus VI Dionysus (c. 148–142/1 BC), king of the
Hellenistic
In Classical antiquity, the Hellenistic period covers the time in Mediterranean history after Classical Greece, between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the emergence of the Roman Empire, as signified by the Battle of Actium in ...
Seleucid kingdom
The Seleucid Empire (; grc, Βασιλεία τῶν Σελευκιδῶν, ''Basileía tōn Seleukidōn'') was a Greek state in West Asia that existed during the Hellenistic period from 312 BC to 63 BC. The Seleucid Empire was founded by the M ...
, was the son of
Alexander Balas
Alexander I Theopator Euergetes, surnamed Balas ( grc, Ἀλέξανδρος Βάλας, Alexandros Balas), was the ruler of the Seleucid Empire from 150/Summer 152 – August 145 BC. Picked from obscurity and supported by the neighboring Roman- ...
and
Cleopatra Thea
Cleopatra Thea ( el, Κλεοπάτρα Θεά, which means "Cleopatra the Goddess"; c. 164 – 121 BC) surnamed Eueteria (i.e., "good-harvest/fruitful season") was the ruler of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. She was queen consort of Syria f ...
, daughter of
Ptolemy VI of Egypt.
Biography
Antiochus VI did not actually rule. Either already in 145 or in early 144 BC he was nominated by the general
Diodotus Tryphon
Diodotus Tryphon ( el, Διόδοτος Τρύφων), nicknamed "The Magnificent" ( el, Ό Μεγαλοπρεπής) was a Greek king of the Seleucid Empire. Initially an official under King Alexander I Balas, he led a revolt against Alexander ...
as heir to the throne in opposition to
Demetrius II, and remained the general's tool. In c. 142/141 BC, the young king died. While some ancient authors make
Diodotus Tryphon
Diodotus Tryphon ( el, Διόδοτος Τρύφων), nicknamed "The Magnificent" ( el, Ό Μεγαλοπρεπής) was a Greek king of the Seleucid Empire. Initially an official under King Alexander I Balas, he led a revolt against Alexander ...
responsible for the death of the king, others write that he died during a surgery.
[Ios. Ant. 13. 218; Liv. per. 55.]
See also
*
List of Syrian monarchs
The title King of Syria appeared in the second century BC in referring to the Seleucid kings who ruled the entirety of the region of Syria. It was also used to refer to Aramean kings in the Greek translations of the Old Testament, mainly indicatin ...
*
Timeline of Syrian history
__NOTOC__
This is a timeline of Syrian history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Syria and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Syria.
Millennia: 1st ...
References
Footnotes
External links
Antiochus VIentry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
{{DEFAULTSORT:Antiochus 06 Dionysus
140s BC births
140s BC deaths
Year of birth uncertain
Year of death uncertain
2nd-century BC Seleucid rulers
Antiochus 06
Rulers deposed as children
Ancient child rulers
2nd-century BC rulers
Antiochus 06