(CERAUNUS, king of SYRIA. was the eldest son
and successor of Seleucus II. His real name was Alexander, but on his father's death he
assumed that of Seleucus; the surname of Ceraunus was given him by 'the soldiery, apparently
in derision, as he appears to have been feebel both in mind and body. He, however, followed up
his father's plans, by assembling an army, with which he passed Mount Taurus, for the purpose
of dispossessing Attalus of his newly acquired dominions in Asia Minor. He was accompanied by
his cousin Achaeus, a man of energy and ability, but the war was notwithstanding feebly
conducted : discontents broke out in the army; and at length Seleucus himself was assassinated
by one of his own officers, named Nicanor, and a Gaul of the name of Apaturius. He could have
been little more than twenty years old at the time of his death, of which he had reigned
nearly three years. (Syr. 66 ; Hieronym. ad Daniel. 11.10; Euseb.
Arm. p. 165.)
From an inscription found at Seleuceia, on the Orontes (Pococke, Inscr.
Ant. p. 4, No. 18 ; Droysen, vol. ii. p. 520), it appears that the official title or
surname assumed by Seleucus, was that of Soter; but neither this, nor that of Ceraunus by
which he is known in history, is found on any of his coins. The latter, indeed, can only be
assigned to him conjecturally. Droysen (Ib. p. 521) has inferred, from
the same inscription, that Seleucus must have left an infant son of the name of Antiochus,
whose claims were passed over in favour of his uncle, Antiochus III.; but no other mention is
found of this fact.