The legend of Stratonice: A mythological aspect

The study aims to analyze the well-known episode of the marriage of Stratonice, the first wife of Seleucus I and then his son Antiochus, in the context of the policy of consolidating society conducted by Seleucus Nicator and to determine the reasons that influenced the established description of this incident in sources. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that this story is considered as an artificially created myth that has absorbed representations of the “dying and resurrecting god”. As a result of the study, it was found that in the sources, the background of Stratonice’s second marriage is described similar to popular mythological plots and ritual practices, which suggests the artificial origin of this legend. Seleucus’s decision to give his wife to his son needed an intelligent justification, and the explanation of this step organically blended into the formation of the myth about the ruler himself and the members of his family.