Achaeus (son of Seleucus I Nicator)

3rd-century BCE Seleucid prince

Achaeus (Ancient Greek: Ἀχαιός; flourished 3rd century BC) was a Seleucid nobleman and was the second son born to King and founder of the Seleucid Empire Seleucus I Nicator and Sogdian noblewoman Apama I.[1]

## Background

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Achaeus was of Greek and Sogdian descent. He had three siblings: one brother the Seleucid King Antiochus I Soter and two sisters: Apama and Laodice. Achaeus is sometimes called Achaeus the Elder, to distinguish him from his grandson the Seleucid General, Achaeus. He was a wealthy man and owned estates in Anatolia. Achaeus was a benefactor for those who assisted during the war against the Galatians. The Seleucid military campaign against the Galatians took place between 269-267 BC, during the reign of Antiochus I. Those who had assisted Antiochus I and Achaeus were taken prisoner and Achaeus paid for their ransom to be released. Antiochus I won this military campaign. Those who had Achaeus as their benefactor inscribed their benefaction on a stone stele and placed it in the sanctuary of Zeus at Babakome and that of Apollo at Kiddioukome. The descendants of those who were saved by Achaeus for all time were granted a seat of honor at the public festivals and sacrificed an ox to Achaeus every year in the sanctuary of Zeus.

Achaeus married an unnamed Greek woman. From his wife, she had born him five children who were:

* Antiochis, who married Attalus and became the mother of Attalus I, King of Pergamon.[2][3]
* Alexander, who held high positions under his paternal uncle Antiochus I Soter.[4]
* Laodice I, who was the first wife of the Seleucid King Antiochus II Theos.[5]
* Andromachus, he was held captive by the Egyptian Pharaoh Ptolemy III Euergetes.[6]
* Laodice II, who married Seleucus II Callinicus (according to Polybius).

## References

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1. ^ Christelle Fischer-Bovet; Sitta von Reden (30 September 2021). Comparing the Ptolemaic and Seleucid Empires: Integration, Communication, and Resistance. Cambridge University Press. p. 49\. ISBN 9780429603594. "Apama, wife of Seleucus I, was the daughter of the Sogdian Spitamenes (Arr. Anab. 7.4.6). She was the mother of Antiochus I and also of Achaios"
2. ^ (Strab. xiii. p. 624.)
3. ^ Grainger 1997, p. 47
4. ^ Grainger 1997, p. 47
5. ^ Grainger 1997, p. 47
6. ^ Grainger 1997, p. 47

## Sources

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* Austin, M. M. 2006. The Hellenistic World from Alexander to the Roman Conquest: A Selection of Ancient Sources in Translation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
* Grainger, J. D. 1997. A Seleukid Prosopography and Gazetteer. Leiden, New York and Köln: E. J. Brill.

## External links

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* Biographical information of Apama at Livius.org
* Biographical information of Laodice I at Livius.org Archived 2016-10-27 at the Wayback Machine
* Article on Laodice no. 2 at Ancient Library
* Biographical information of Seleucus I Nicator at Livius.org