Seleucus VII Philometor

Seleucus VII Philometor (Ancient Greek: Φιλομήτωρ) or Kybiosactes (Ancient Greek: Κυβιοσάκτης), was a possible ruler of the Seleucid kingdom based in Syria, but his existence is disputed.

Seleucus VII Philometor
Seleucus VII Kybiosaktes
King of the Seleucid Empire
Reign	83–69 BC (in opposition to Tigranes II of Armenia)
Predecessor	Philip I Philadelphus
Successor	Antiochus XIII Asiaticus
Co-rulers	Cleopatra Selene (mother) and possibly Antiochus XIII Asiaticus (younger brother)
Egyptian royal consort (possibly co-regent)
Tenure	Circa 57 BC
Successor	Archelaus I of Comana
Born	Unknown
Died	Circa 57 BC (exact date unknown) Likely Egypt
Spouse	Berenice IV (possibly)
Dynasty	Seleucid
Father	Antiochus X Eusebes
Mother	Cleopatra Selene

Biography

King of Syria

The last members of the once mighty Seleucid dynasty are shadowy figures; local dynasts with complicated family ties whose identities are hard to ascertain: many of them also bore the same names. Seleucus was unknown until recently. From coins issued by him and his mother, Ptolemaic princess Cleopatra Selene, it is presumed that he was her son by king Antiochus X Eusebes, and a brother of later king Antiochus XIII Asiaticus. He appears to have "reigned" during the occupation of Syria by Armenian king Tigranes (83-69 BC). In reality, only a few cities were loyal to the Seleucids during this period.

Some time after Tigranes had conquered Syria (83 BC), his mother travelled to Rome to have her sons recognized as kings of Egypt, but to no avail. They were there between at least 75 BC and 73 BC; recognized as "Kings of Syria", and "maintained a royal state".

Co-regent of Egypt

The young boy-king is probably the same Seleucus who later went to marry a Ptolemaic princess called Berenice IV on an unknown date (a sister of the famous Cleopatra VII of Egypt) to become co-regent of Egypt, but allegedly was murdered by the discontented bride for his lack of manners. He bore the derogatory name Kybiosaktes, the term for the foul-smelling work of cutting tuna fish.

Controversy

In 2002, the numismatist Brian Kritt announced the discovery and decipherment of a coin bearing the portrait of Cleopatra Selene and a co-ruler. Kritt read the name of the ruler as Seleucus Philometor and, based on the epithet, identified him with Cleopatra Selene's son, unnamed by Cicero. Kritt gave the newly discovered ruler the regnal name Seleucus VII, and considered it very likely that he is identical with Kybiosaktes. But Hoover rejected Kritt's reading, noting that the coin was badly damaged and some letters were unreadable. Hoover read the king's name as Antiochus and identified him with Antiochus XIII.

See also

• List of Syrian monarchs
• Timeline of Syrian history

Sources

• Heinen, Heinz (1968). "Séleucos Cybiosactés et le Probléme De Son Identité". In Cerfaux, Lucien; et al. (eds.). Antidorum W. Peremans Sexagenario Ab Alumnis Oblatum. Studia Hellenistica (in French). Vol. 16. Publications universitaire de Louvain. OCLC 876029154.