First Syrian War (274-272)

Astronomical diary, referring to financial measures during the First Syrian War (British Museum)

Syrian Wars: series of conflicts between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires in the third and second centuries BCE; at stake was an area called Coele Syria, which is more or less identical to modern Israel, the Palestine territories, Lebanon and southern Syria.

First/1
280-279

First/2
274-272

The second phase of the First Syrian War was inevitable after the Seleucid losses during the first phase
275: Antiochus I Soter defeats the Galatians ("elephant battle") and the Seleucid empire stabilizes; he allies himself to Magas, king of the Cyrenaica
274: A Seleucid general recaptures Damascus; Magas invades Egypt; mutiny in the Egyptian army; the Seleucids proceed to the south
Ptolemy II Philadelphus is able to expel Magas, recognizing him as independent ruler
273: Treaty between Egypt and Rome, which has just defeated Pyrrhus of Epirus but is still a minor state
The Ptolemaic navy attacks the Seleucid ports and forces Antiochus to retreat
272: Peace treaty

Ancient-Warfare.com, the online home of Ancient Warfare magazine

This brief article has been written to offer background information to the real articles on Livius.Org. One day, this webpage will be improved. A list of completed articles can be found here.