This podcast explores what happened after Alexander the Great, with a specific focus on the story of the Seleucids- a dynasty which descended from one of Alexander's generals and came to rule an empire stretching from Anatolia to India. Join us as we examine the Hellenistic world and watch the shifting Seleucid fortunes through the various highs and lows. Currently covering: The reign of Seleucus IV Philopater (187- 175 BCE).
Antiochus V tries his hardest to unify Greek religion- and obviously the only way to do that is to declare himself a god- while also pushing eastwards to rebuild Seleucid strength. He will manage to get away with raiding the same temples his father died in, but that won't stop him dying in the east all the same...
Sources for this episode:
Africa, T. (1982), Worms and the Death of Kings: A Cautionary Note on Disease and History. Classical Antiquity 1(1): 1-17.
Bevan, E. R. (1966), The House of Seleucus (Volume II). New York: Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Lactantius (1766), A relation of the death of the primitive persecutors. Translated by G. Burnet. Glasgow: Robert and Andrew Foulis.
Lorein, G. W. (2001), Some Aspects of the Life and Death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes: A New Presentation of Old Viewpoints. Ancient Society 31: 157-171.
Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Antiochus IV Epiphanes (online) (Accessed 13/09/2026).
Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Elymais (online) (Accessed 13/09/2026).
30 Aug 2026
110- Circle Time
Full disclosure: today's topic is one I've been looking forward to since I started the podcast back in 2020. Today, we witness Antiochus V shatter the peace with Egypt and resume the Sixth Syrian War, while Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy VIII attempt to settle their differences. All while a Roman diplomat gives us a very cool moment that allows us to make a pun on a UK-based school tradition...
Sources for this episode:
TBA
16 Aug 2026
109- The Sixth Syrian War
Good things come in sixes- or do they? Well, at least not in the case of Syrian Wars between the Seleucids and the Ptolemies. Let's watch Egypt collapse after a series of one-two punches and get embroiled in a civil war between Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy VIII. We will also see your friendly podcaster's pro-Seleucid bias shine through as he questions the decision-making of Antiochus.
Sources for this episode:
TBA
Who has been a guest on After Alexander
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Dustin
Meredith
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