v49_0298 - SYRIA - SELEUKID KINGDOM - ANTIOCHUS VIII GRYPUS Unité (dénomination B), (PB, Æ 18)

SYRIA - SELEUKID KINGDOM - ANTIOCHUS VIII GRYPUS

(121-96 BC)

First reign

Antiochus VIII with the long nose (grypos) is the eldest son of Demetrius II and Cleopatra Thea. After a regency between 125 and 121 BC with his mother, whom he ended up poisoning before being assassinated himself, he had to fight for twenty years against his half-brother Antiochus IX Cyzicene (of Cyzicus) . Antioch had to be retaken four times. Antiochus reigned there from 121 to 113, then in 112 and 111, from 111 to 109, finally from 108 to 96 BC. Antiochus VIII was assassinated by his son Seleucus VI who also killed his uncle Antiochus IX before being himself eliminated by Antiochus X, son of Antiochus IX in 96 BC, a beautiful family story.