ABSTRACT
In 305, Seleucus laid the foundations of the Seleucid empire, following military campaigns which took his forces deep into central Asia. He was accorded the title Nicator, ‘Conqueror’, in recognition of his exploits. Aer declaring himself ruler of his newly created empire, he established a royal capital Seleuceia, on the banks of the Tigris. Initially, his empire extended eastwards from the Euphrates across Mesopotamia to the lands of Iran and central Asia. Subsequently, he won control also of large areas of eastern and central Anatolia, including southern Cappadocia and Commagene, and most importantly large parts of Syria. In Syria, he built a second Seleuceia – Seleuceia in Pieria – at the mouth of the Orontes. It was to serve as Syria’s major port. Shortly aer, 30 kms from the river’s mouth, he built a city called Antioch, later to become one of the greatest metropolises of the ancient world. Seleuceia in Pieria and Antioch were but two of the many settlements Seleucus and his successors founded or refounded throughout their realm. eir new cities they populated with large numbers of Greek settlers, in line with their policy of spreading Greek culture and civilization throughout the lands subject to them. But Seleucid policy was also an inclusive one, which preserved and respected the customs and traditions of the local peoples, who were granted citizenship alongside Greeks in both the new and the old foundations. Non-Greek communities were to be recipients of benefactions and patronage from their Seleucid rulers, their religious rites, beliefs and sanctuaries protected and honoured.
