Hi there, you're listening to the Hellenistic Age podcast.

Episode 120, the Salucod Empire, writing on the wall.

At only 16 years old, Demetrius II could count himself remarkably fortunate.

The war between himself, his rival Alexander Ballas, and his new father-in-law, Ptolemy the Sixth Philometer, ended in the most favorable of circumstances. Balas was defeated and slain, while Ptolemy suffered such a

grievous injury in battle that he died of his wounds. The young Demetrius was now free from

the challenges of rival claimants, and no longer dependent upon the aid of the Ptolemy's

first crown, meaning that the throne of Syria was in his hands at last. Unfortunately,

this was not so straightforward as it seemed, as this round of civil wars was but the culmination

of nearly a decade of infighting across Syria. There were serious consequences

for these destructive conflicts, both in the Mediterranean and in the upper satrapies. Following

the Battle of the Annaparis in late summer of 145, Demetrius swept through Coily Syria and

drove any remaining Ptolemaic forces stationed there back into Egypt,

seizing much of their baggage train and their elephants. No doubt the political turmoil

following Philometer's death left the Egyptian military in the state of disarray, and retaliatory

actions by the Alexandrian government were unlikely. The new, or perhaps returning, King of Egypt,

Ptolemy the 8th Fiskin, had no such interest in pursuing military campaigns outside of his

holdings in Egypt, and chose to focus more on his eternal enemies rather than those abroad.

Demetrius enjoyed the fruits of his newfound success, as he gained the epithet Nicator, Victor,

and the Babylonians celebrated his achievements in the war by sacrificing a bull in his honor.

His marriage with Cleopatra Thea still remained intact, despite her father's demise,

and through their union they would produce three children,

two sons named Salukus and

...