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Seleucus had seventy-two satraps under him, so extensive was the territory over which he ruled. The greater part he had transferred to his son, but he continued to reign over the country which lies between the Euphrates and the sea. The last war that he waged was with Lysimachus, for the possession of Phrygia on the Hellespont. Lysimachus Y.R. 473 was defeated and slain in battle. Then Seleucus crossed B.C.281 the Hellespont in order to possess himself of Lysimacheia, but he was killed by Ptolemy Ceraunus who accompanied him. This Ceraunus was the son of Ptolemy Soter and Euridice, the daughter of Antipater. He had left Egypt from fear, because his father had decided to leave the kingdom to his youngest son. Seleucus had received him as the unfortunate son of his friend, and thus he supported, and took around with himself everywhere, his own murderer. Y.R. 474
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Thus Seleucus died at the age of seventy-three, B.C.280 having reigned forty-two years. It seems to me that the oracle hit the mark in his case when it said to him, Do not hurry back to Europe; Asia will be much better for you, for Lysimacheia is in Europe, and he then crossed over to Europe for the first time after leaving it with the army of Alexander. It is said also that once when he consulted an oracle in reference to his own death he received this answer:—
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If you keep away from Argos you will reach your allotted year, but if you approach that place you will die before your time.
