Ruling style Antiochus IV cultivated a reputation as an extravagant and generous ruler. He scattered money to common people in the streets of Antioch; gave unexpected gifts to people he did not know; contributed money to the Temple of Zeus at Athens and the altar at Delos; put all his Western military forces on a massive parade at Daphne, a suburb of Antioch; and held opulent banquets with the aristocracy using the best spices, clothing, and food. He also supplemented the Seleucid army with mercenaries. All of this cost the Seleucid treasury, but the Empire was apparently able to raise enough taxes to pay for it. His eccentric behavior and unexpected interactions with common people such as appearing in the public bath houses and applying for municipal offices led his detractors to call him Epimanes (Ἐπιμανής, Epimanḗs, "The Mad"), a word play on his title Epiphanes ("God Manifest").Polybius 26.1a. See also Polybius 30.
ruling style antiochus iv cultivated a reputation as an extravagant and generous ruler he scattered money to common people in the streets of antioch; gave unexpected gifts to people he did not know; contributed money to the temple of zeus at athens and the altar at delos; put all his western military forces on a massive parade at daphne a suburb of antioch; and held opulent banquets with the aristocracy using the best spices clothing and food he also supplemented the seleucid army with mercenaries all of this cost the seleucid treasury but the empire was apparently able to raise enough taxes to pay for it his eccentric behavior and unexpected interactions with common people such as appearing in the public bath houses and applying for municipal offices led his detractors to call him epimanes (ἐπιμανής epimanḗs "the mad") a word play on his title epiphanes ("god manifest")polybius 261a see also polybius 30