1 The city was founded in 312 BC by Seleukos I Nikator at the confluence of the Tigris River and a major canal from the Euphrates. Seleukeia on the Tigris was one of the great Hellenistic cities and a very important trading centre.

Appian, Syriake 58, tolds the following legend about how the city was established: ... They say, also, that when the Magians were ordered to indicate the propitious day and hour for beginning the foundations of Seleucia-on-the-Tigris they falsified as to the hour because they did not want to have such a stronghold built against themselves. While the king (Seleukos I Nikator) was waiting in his tent for the appointed hour, and the army, in readiness to begin the work, stood quietly till Seleucus should give the signal, suddenly, at the true hour of destiny, they seemed to hear a voice ordering them on. So they sprang to their work with such alacrity that the heralds who tried to stop them were not able to do so. When the work was brought to an end Seleucus, being troubled in his mind, again made inquiry of the Magians concerning his city, and they, having first secured a promise of impunity, replied, “That which is fated, o king, whether it be for better or worse, neither man nor city can change, for there is a fate for cities as well as for men. It pleases the gods that this city shall endure for ages, because it was begun on the hour on which it was begun. We feared lest it should be a stronghold against ourselves, and falsified the appointed time. Destiny is stronger than crafty Magians or an unsuspecting king. For that reason the deity announced the more propitious hour to the army. It is permitted you to know these things so surely that you need not suspect us of deception still, for you were presiding over the army yourself, as king, and you had yourself ordered them to wait; but the army, ever obedient to you in facing danger and toil, could not now be restrained, even when you gave them the order to stop, but sprang to their work, not a part of them merely, but all together, and their officers with them, thinking that the order had been given. In fact it had been given. That was the reason why not even you could hold them back. What can be stronger in human affairs than a king, unless it be a god, who overcame your intention and supplanted us in giving you directions about the city; for the god is in hostility to us and to all the people round about? What can our resources avail hereafter with a more powerful race settled along side of us? This city of yours has had a fortunate beginning, it will be great and enduring. We beg that you will confirm your pardon of our fault which we committed from fear of the loss of our own prosperity.” The king was pleased with what the Magians said and pardoned them. This is what I have heard about Seleucia.

2 See Kritt, The early Seleucid mint of Susa, pp. 99-103. See also Houghton and Lorber, SC I, p. 57.

3 Originally one of the most famous cities of antiquity and the capital of southern Mesopotamia (Babylonia). Its importance was reduced by the building of Seleukeia on the Tigris, the eastern capital of the Seleukid Empire.

4 See Houghton and Lorber, SC I, p. 40.

5 Antioch was founded about 300 BC by Seleukos I Nikator, the founder of the Seleukid Dynasty, and it became the principal capital of the Seleukid Empire. The city was named after a family name Antiochos, passed from his father to his son (Antiochos I Soter). There were a number of other cities by the same name and this Antioch was known as Antioch on the Orontes (i.e. the Orontes River, along which it was located).

6 It is also common to refer to this city as Apameia on the Orontes. However, the city is called Apameia of Syria or simply Apameia in the ancient written sources, and Apameia or Apameia on the Axios (ΑΠΑΜΕΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΩΙ ΑΞΙΩΙ) on quasi-municipal and municipal coins. Axios was the Makedonian name given to the Orontes River by the Greco-Macedonian settlers at Apameia. See Cohen, The Hellenistic Settlements in Syria, the Red Sea Basin, and North Africa, p. 96 and n. 12 on pp. 99-100.

7 The ankus, or ancus, is an elephant goad used by elephant riders and trainers. It consists of a metal head attached to a handle. The head consists of two pointed tips, with one tip curving away from a straight tip.

8 Houghton’s specimen (CSE 12, see the attached cited coins), one specimen cited by Newell (WSM, 929 η, Plate XVII, 25) and one specimen offered by Freeman & Sear (stock No. G7356, see the attached cited coins) have the letter Ξ in the exergue.

9 MacDonald’s description of the obverse: Apollo, naked to waist, holding arrow in extended r., and leaning with l. on rock on which he is seated l.

10 Plutarch, Demetrius 25: ... whereas Demetrius (Demetrios Poliorketes) used to ridicule those who gave the name of king to any except himself and his father (Antigonos Monopthalmos); and in his entertainments was well pleased when his followers, after drinking to him and his father as kings, went on to drink the healths of Seleucus (Seleukos I), with the title of Master of the Elephants; of Ptolemy (Ptolemy I), by the name of High Admiral; of Lysimachus, with the addition of Treasurer; and of Agathocles, with the style of Governor of the Island of Sicily.

11 My warmest thanks to Panagiotis Iossif and Catharine Lorber for informing me about their research.

12 See Houghton and Lorber, SC I, p. 57.

13 The capital of ancient Lydia (a historic region of western Asia Minor).

14 Seleukos I captured Sardis at the beginning of his campaign against Lysimachos in 282 BC and he died in August or September 281 BC (see the page devoted to Seleulos I’s genealogy and biography).