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First Syrian War (274-272)

Syrian Wars: series of conflicts between the Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires in the third and second centuries BCE; at stake was an area called Coele Syria, which is more or less identical to modern Israel, the Palestine territories, Lebanon, and southern Syria.

Course of events

Astronomical diary, referring to financial measures during the First Syrian War

The second phase of the First Syrian War was inevitable after the Seleucid losses during the first phase
275: Antiochus I Soter defeats the Galatians ("elephant battle") and the Seleucid empire stabilizes; he allies himself to Magas, king of the Cyrenaica
274: A Seleucid general recaptures Damascus; Magas invades Egypt; mutiny in the Egyptian army; the Seleucids proceed to the south
Ptolemy II Philadelphus is able to expel Magas, recognizing him as independent ruler
273: Treaty between Egypt and Rome, which has just defeated Pyrrhus of Epirus but is still a minor state
The Ptolemaic navy attacks the Seleucid ports and forces Antiochus to retreat
272: Peace treaty