Page:Political History of Parthia.pdf/54

8 In 318 Pithon, satrap of Media, seized the prov­ince of Parthia, did away with Philippus, and in­stalled his brother Eudamus. The other satraps became alarmed and joined together under the strong­est, Peucestas of Persis. The combined armies of Iran drove Pithon out of Parthia, and he retreated to his own province of Media. After 316 the prov­ince apparently was joined to Bactria under the command of Stasanor. By the middle of the third century the Seleucid empire was in difficulty. Antiochus II continued the war which his father had begun in Egypt about 276 When peace was made Anti­ochus put away his wife Laodice, who retired to Ephesus, and married Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy II (253 ). Although Antiochus had thus secured peace, his relations with Ptolemy were none too se­cure. About the time of the marriage Diodotus, sa­trap of Bactria, revolted and assumed the title of king.