History of Persia

After expanding to dominate most of the central Italian Peninsula, Rome was quick to take advantage of political crises to the south to expand their influence. From Pyrrhus' invasion on behalf of Tarentum to the final defeat of Hannibal in the Second Punic War, we bring Rome up to speed with the Seleucid narrative.

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The Roman Republic has finally arrived in our narrative after negotiating with Antiochus the Great on behalf of Ptolemy V. Today we begin our introduction to Rome from their earliest origins to their rise as the masters of central Italy in the 3rd Century BCE.

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Following his return from Mesopotamia and Arabia, Antiochus the Great was poised to begin a Fifth Syrian War with the goal of conquering Koile Syria. To prepare for this, he would settle Anatolia, fully annex Armenia, and forge a secret alliance with Philip V of Macedon. Then it was time to plunge the eastern Mediterranean back into a storm of conflict that would ultimately bring a new power into the Hellenistic World.

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We've had the opportunity to tour the Seleucid Empire under Antiochus the Great as he conquered his way from Syria to the Hindu Kush, and now it's time to discuss both the longstanding imperial core of Babylonia, and their long neglected neighbors in Assyria.

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Following his victory over the Parthian Kingdom, Antiochus III marched against the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and beyond, tracing the path of Alexander the Great and beyond.

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After defeating Achaeus, Antiochus III was quick to continue his reconquest of former Seleucid territory, or at least what he claimed was former Seleucid territory with a siege of Arsomasata and King Xerxes of Sophene. From there, the Seleucid army marched east to confront Arsakes II, the separatist king of Parthia.

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After the catastrophic Battle of Raphia, Antiochus III turned north and went to face the rebel royal Achaios and retake Anatolia in the aftermath of many surprising alliances.

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Following the Fourth Syrian War, Ptolemy IV Philopator went back to Egypt to enjoy his victory and leave administration to his advisers, at least until native Egyptian revolts brought Egypt's royal party to a screeching halt.

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After defeating Molon and Alexander in the Upper Satrapies, Antiochus III arranged or accepted the assassination of Hermeias before resuming the Fourth Syrian War against Egypt. The Seleucids rise to new heights as they approach the Battle of Raphia.

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Continuing the grand tour of western Iran, it's time to talk about Hellenistic Persia. The province of Persis was home to a unique set of governors called Frataraka under Seleucid rule who introduced new and exciting trends to the Persian homeland while the Seleucids ran the show.

A New Frataraka Chronology by David Engels - https://www.academia.edu/6374300/A_New_Frataraka_Chronology_in_Latomus_72_2013_28_82

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America: Secret Wars Season 2 kicks off with Trevor, Roberto, and Ben discussing current events in the 2026 Iran-Israel-US War. We talked a lot about the foreseeable consequences of the conflict, it's place in history, and a relatively long tangent about Muppets to break up the darkness.

The History of Saqartvelo Georgia https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/historysaqartvelogeorgia

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Why Tho? A Personal Journey Through my...

Despite his Prime Minister's insistence against it, Antiochus III resolved to march east and face the rebel satrap Molon in 220 BCE. It's also time for a new Grand Tour of the Empire as we follow Antiochus on his travels.

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The Seleucid narrative is back, and Antiochus III is the new king. Fresh off the death of his father and brother, the young Antiochus found himself pulled in three different directions by his nobles as rebellions, wars, and scheming advisers took their toll on the Empire.

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Prepare for a return to the narrative with a quick round of catch up with the Seleucids' neighbors: Egypt, Macedon, India, and surprisingly, Sparta one last time before the famed warriors of Ancient Greece fade into history.

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Intelligent Speech Online 2026 is almost here, and if I haven't yet sold you on attending the conference on February 28, 2026 (starting at 9am US Eastern Time), you might be interested in my presentation from last year's event.

When he seized the Persian throne in 522 BCE, Darius the Great made a public declaration explaining his coup in the Bisotun Inscription. Details changed with each retelling, but that version of story is the only one that survived in ancient sources. Modern historians are pretty sure that it’s one of the most successful lies ever told.

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Slightly delayed by world events, but planned and written for December 2025, History of Persia marks the Iranian and Zoroastrian holiday of Sadeh, a feast and fire to stave off the dark winter nights and celebrate light and warmth.

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The Gist of the Jashan Ceremony - https://www.avesta.org/antia/Gist_of_the_Jashan_R1.pdf

The Atash Niyayesh - https://www.avesta.org/ka/niyayesh.htm#ny5

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Unfortunately for the study of Seleucid philosophy, the Seleucid kings were not major patrons of the lovers of wisdom as their Hellenistic neighbors were, and the works of the philosophers they did patronize have not survived. However, somewhat more can be said of Seleucid patronage of ancient medicine.

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We're taking a break from the narrative for a brief introduction to Ancient Greek Philosophy. From Thales to Epicurus, it's time.

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The Hellenistic Age Podcast - https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/

History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps - https://historyofphilosophy.net/

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After chasing his brother out of Asia, but still beaten by the Parthians, Seleucus II returned to Antioch to face the family drama royals are best known for and to prepare for another round of war. In a speed round family episode, we'll cover the Seleucid extended family, the death of Seleucus Callinichus, and the reign of Seleucus III Ceranaus.

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During the Third Syrian War, Seleucus II Callinicus discovered treachery. His younger brother, Antiochus Hierax and their royal relatives in Anatolia attempted to usurp the throne. Seleucus was forced to make a hasty peace with Ptolemy III and return to the north to face his brother in open civil war.

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With Babylonia and the Seleucis of Syria under Ptolemaic occupation, it's entirely possible that the only thing that saved Seleucus II was an Egyptian famine. Free to go on the offensive, Seleucus turned the tide of the Third Syrian War.

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Antiochus II Theos was dead and his wives, Laodike and Berenike, were both trying to get their sons on the Seleucid throne. Both sides called on their relatives, the Achaeids and Ptolemies, to plunder and retake the vulnerable Empire.

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We take a break from the Seleucids to discuss their western neighbors: Egypt under Ptolemy II and Macedon under Antigonus II.

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The Hellenistic Age Podcast - https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/

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We've covered 300. We've covered Rise of an Empire. We've covered all sorts of Achaemenid historical fiction. So now, we cover Xerxes, with a shockingly positive review of Frank Miller's sequel graphic novel.

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Thank you all so much for supporting History of Persia. In this bonus episode, I wanted to try out something a little different than usual. Today, I'm pitching my ideas for movies and series set in the Achaemenid Empire. If you've ever wanted a spaghetti western set in the 5th Century BCE or an animated musical where Cambyses is Prince Charming, I've got some thoughts.

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It's time to wind down Antiochus II Theos and talk about his extended royal family, from his various siblings spread out across the Hellenistic world to the powerful cousins entrenched in Anatolia. Then we'll wrap up with his two wives, Laodike and Berenike, and their three sons, Seleucus, Antiochus, and Antiochus.

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The Book of Daniel is a fascinating combination of genuine history, folk tale, historical inaccuracy, and prophecy. Let's talk about it.

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During and after the Second Syrian War, Antiochus II was involved in many ongoing events with his smaller neighbors and subordinates. Whether it was intervening in the Cappadocian monarchy, being kept out of Bithynia by threats of a wider war, or granting autonomy to Parthia and Bactria to fight the Parni, the Seleucid Empire was a busy place in the mid-3rd Century BCE.

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Trevor's WiFi is back, and so is the History of Persia. Although he started in a relatively strong position, the new Seleucid king Antiochus II's reign was immediately derailed by the Second Syrian War. Rebellions, invasions, and alliances ensue.

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To wrap up our series on Orphism and its connections to Hellenistic Iran, it's time to discuss Zurvan, the Zoroastrian yazata of Time, and his growing cult in the Hellenistic Age.

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The Ancient Greeks had many ideas about the origins of the universe and humanity over the centuries. The best known is probably Hesiod's Theogony, but the Orphics developed many of their own versions of the story. Today, we explore some of those competing ideas about the dawn of Time.

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Continuing the story of Orphic religion, we take a break from mythology to talk about theology in one of ancient Greece's more unique mystery cults.

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We're taking a break from the historical narrative to focus on a mythological one: the life and times of Orpheus the Bard, from his many origin stories to the travels of the Argonauts to his eventual journey to the underworld.

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Like any good king, Antiochus I Soter had a royal family, and as his reign comes to an end, it's time to talk about them, from his brother in Anatolia to troublesome sons and wide ranging in-laws. He's in his Seleucid Era.

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After losing a large piece of the eastern empire to Chandragupta Maurya, the Seleucids didn't just ignore their eastern neighbors. In the later decades of Seleucus' reign, Megasthenes established diplomatic ties between the two eastern kingdoms. In the generations that followed, diplomacy and trade helped to stabilize both the Maurya and the Seleucids.

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A grab bag episode to cover Seleukid politics in the last decade or so of Antiochus Soter's reign. We've got temples, cities, and rebellion. What more could you ask for?

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No sooner had Antiochus I defeated the new-found Galatians in Anatolia, than war erupted in the south. Magas, brother of Ptolemy II and self-declared King of Cyrene, formed a marriage alliance with Antiochus before fighting a war of succession against his brother, dragging the Seleucid Empire along for the ride.

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After sweeping through the Balkans with their kin, three tribes of Gauls in Thrace drew the attention of the embattled Nicomeides of Bithynia as potential allies in his war against a Seleucid-backed opponent. The Gauls crossed the Bosporus and swept through Nicomeides enemies with ease before turning their sites on the war torn regions of Seleucid Anatolia.

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Intelligent Speech 2025 is coming! The event will feature a gathering of excellent history podcasters THIS SATURDAY. That’s FEBRUARY 8, 2025 at 10:00am US Eastern Time for an all day event featuring presentations, panels, and live Q&A with a ton of history podcasts. If that doesn’t convince you, this episode is last year’s History of Persia Presentation. Get those tickets ASAP!!!

Get tickets to Intelligent Speech February 8, 2025!

https://intelligentspeechonline.com/

Featuring:

Derek - The Hellenistic Age

https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/

Umberto - So You Think You Can Rule...

Intelligent Speech 2025 is coming! The event will feature a gathering of excellent history podcasters THIS SATURDAY. That's FEBRUARY 8, 2025 at 10:00am US Eastern Time for an all day event featuring presentations, panels, and live Q&A with a ton of history podcasts. If that doesn't convince you, this episode is last year's History of Persia Presentation. Get those tickets ASAP!!!

Get tickets to Intelligent Speech February 8, 2025!

https://intelligentspeechonline.com/

Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHp9g9cg5to&ab_channel=IntelligentSpeechOnline