ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT, king of Syria, succeeded his brother Seleucus Ceraunus, 223 years before Christ. He was defeated in a bloody battle, by Ptolemy Philopater, near Raphia, 217 years before Christ. Some time after, he took Sardes; attacked the Medes and Parthians; conquered Judea, Phœnicia, and Cœlesyria; and formed the design of reducing Smyrna, Lampacus, and other cities of Asiatic Greece. These cities implored the assistance of the Romans; who sent ambassadors to oblige him to restore to Ptolemy Philadelphus the countries he had taken from him, and to suffer the free cities of Greece to enjoy the blessings of peace. Antiochus being enraged, at the solicitation of Hannibal declared war against the Romans; but
was defeated by Acilius Glabrio, and lost a great battle against Scipio Asiaticus, near Magnesia: in short, the Romans granted him a peace on very disgraceful conditions. At last, finding his exchequer low, and going to recruit it with the plunder of the temple of Belus, he was killed by the rabble, who came to save the sacred treasure, about 187 years before Christ; and was succeeded by Seleucus Philopater.