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Fourth Syrian War (219-217)
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
Ptolemy IV PhilopatorPtolemy IV Philopator succeeds his father between 5 and 16 February 222; many relatives are killed (including his mother) by his ministers Agathocles and Sosibius
221: First skirmishes of the Fourth Syrian War: Antiochus attacks the Ptolemaic possessions in Syria, but is forced to suppress the revolt of Molon in Media and Persis first
219: Outbreak of the Fourth Syrian War; Antiochus reconquers Seleucia (the port of Antioch, which had been conquered by Ptolemy III in the Third Syrian War) and proceeds to the south, capturing Tyre
13 June 217: Ptolemy's army defeats the Seleucid army at Raphia with an army that consists partly of native Egyptian soldiers
October 217: Peace is concluded; the Seleucid Empire keeps Seleucia. In Egypt, the victory is attributed to Isis and Serapis.
