A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Φίλιππος), king of SYRIA, was a son of Antiochus VIII., and twin-brother of Antiochus XI. After the defeat and death of their elder brother Seleucus VI., Philip and Antiochus united their arms against Antiochus X., who then occupied the throne of Syria; but they were defeated in a decisive battle, in which Antiochus XI. perished. Philip nevertheless assumed the royal title, and was able to maintain himself in the possession of a part of Syria. The fourth brother, Demetrius III., was now set up as king at Damascus by Ptolemy Lathurus, and made common cause with Philip against Antiochus X. The fate of the latter is uncertain, but it is clear that Philip and Demetrius succeeded in making themselves masters of the whole of Syria, which they appear to have divided between them. Their concord, however, did not last long; Demetrius was the first to turn his arms against Philip, but the latter was supported not only by Straton tyrant of Beraea, but by a large Parthian army under a general named Mithridates, who blockaded Demetrius in his camp, and ultimately took him prisoner. After this Philippus made himself master of Antioch, and became for a short time sole ruler of Syria, probably in the year B. C. 88. But the civil war was soon renewed by his remaining brother Antiochus XII., who made himself master of Damascus and Coele-Syria, of which Philip was unable to dispossess him. (J. AJ 13.13.4, 14.3, 15.1; Euseb. Arm. p. 169.) The subsequent fortunes of the latter are wholly unknown but it seems certain that he was dethroned, and probably also put to death by Tigranes, king of Armenia, when that monarch established himself on the throne of Syria, B. C. 83. (Trog. Pomp. Prol. xl.; Euseb. Arm. p. 170; Eckhel. vol. iii. p. 244; Froelich. Ann. Syr. p. 114 ; Clinton, F. H. vol. iii. p. 339

[E.H.B]