Hellenistic (Grecian) Kingdom/Empire (Belly/Thighs of Bronze)
The Medo-Persian Empire fell to Hellenistic (Grecian) Empire, likewise Greece swallows up and incorporates the Medo-Persian Empire into its own and becomes the predominate power.
Alexander the Great came to the throne after his father’s death at the age of 20. He spent most of his ruling years conducting a lengthy military campaign throughout Western Asia and Egypt. By the age of 30, he had created one of the largest empires up to that time in history, stretching from Greece to northwestern India. He was undefeated in battle and is widely considered to be one of history’s greatest and most successful military commanders.
It is not difficult to recognize Alexander the Great as the mighty king who arises in Daniel 11:3, and who becomes a swift, aggressive conqueror. At the age of 32/33, he died without leaving an heir to rule the empire.
Diadochi Wars
A series of wars took place between Macedonian generals. These bloody conflicts are also called the Diadochi wars from the Greek word ‘diadochos’ which means successor. Initially, the kingdom was divided among four of his generals: Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy.
Cassander. After Alexander’s death, Cassander murdered Alexander’s wife, Roxana, and only successor, Alexander IV who was not yet born when Alexander died. Alexander IV was approximately 14 years of age when he was murdered. Cassander also murdered Alexander’s illegitimate son Heracles. In addition, he ordered the death of Olympias, Alexander’s mother. Now there was truly no heir. Cassander died of dropsy, and his kingdom was precured by Antigonus II Gonatas – the grandson of Antigonus and the son of Demetrius – who took advantage of the anarchy that followed Cassander and Seleucus’ death.
Lysimachus. After Alexander’s death, Lysimachus ruled Thrace, and expanded his territory to the north part of Asia Minor, Lydia, Ionia, and Phyrgia. His third wife, Arsinoe II, wanted to secure the succession of her own son on the throne and forced Lysimachus to kill his first- born son, Agathocles. This murder caused a revolt and Seleucus took advantage of the situation, invaded and killed Lysimachus at the battle of Kouropedion in 281 BC. When Lysimachus died, the kingdom (Thrace) was absorbed into Syria and Macedonia. After the his death, further changes occurred; but the state of Pergamus, which sprang up at this time. Pergamum may be regarded as the continuation of Lysimachus’s kingdom, and as constituting from the time of Eumenes I (B.C. 263).
Seleucus. After Seleucus took part in the assassination of Perdiccas, for this service he was awarded the satrapy of Babylon. Seleucus punished one of the soldiers of Antigonus who had visited Babylon. Seleucus did not have permission to do this, and Antigonus requested monetary retribution; but Seleucus refused and fled to Egypt. While in Egypt, Seleucus help coordinate the other diadochi against Antigonus who was now the strongest disdochos and who fought under Ptolemy as an admiral. Seleucus saw an opportunity and gathered a company and reclaimed Babylon, thus establishing his dynasty, the Seleucids. Seleucus continued to expand his territory. Just after Seleucus defeated Lysimachus, he was assassinated by his ally, Ptolemy Keraunos, the son of Ptolemy. The Seleucids continued as a kingdom until they were conquered by the Roman Empire in 63 BC.
Ptolemy I Sorter. Ptolemy became the strap of Egypt. Ptolemy stole Alexander’s body and in Alexandria he constructed a luxurious tomb where Alexander was worshiped as a god. Ptolemy fought in the wars of the Diadochi, expanding his realm with Cyprus, Cyrenaica, and Judea. Ptolemy died in 282 BC. Ptolemy Keraunos (Ptolemy’s son) came to power and assassinated Seleucus.
There was as much war over how Greece would be divided, and even after the initial division the generals warred with each other for the purpose of gaining more of the Grecian territory for themselves. After Cassander, Lysimachus, and Seleucus were dead the wars of the Diadochi ended.
The Four Notable Horns (Kingdoms)
What emerged as stable kingdoms with longevity were the following kingsdoms:
Kingdom of Seleucid, they ruled much of what had been the Persian Empire.
Kingdom of Ptolemy, they ruled Egypt.
Kingdom of Antigonus, ruled Macedonia.
Kingdom of Pergamum (Pergamom), the Attalids ruled the western part of Asia Minor.
These are the four notable horns (kingdoms) that stood up.
Characteristics
The bible depicts this kingdom by bronze, a leopard with four wings and four heads (Dan. 7), and as a ‘he goat’ with a notable horn between its eyes (Dan. 8). Again, as we proceed through these chapters, we will see how they build upon one another. This is but a glimpse of Daniel’s prophecy with some historical reference.
The characteristics: leopard, four wings, four heads; and ‘he goat’ with a notable horn which becomes broken and four come up in its place, is the story of Greece. Alexander’s conquests were swift, in three years he conquered massively, he dies (broken horn), and eventually his kingdom is divided among four of his generals (four heads on the lion / four horns). Both accounts regarding Greece in Daniel 7 and 8 parallel one another.
At this point, Daniel predicted over 500 years of prophecy and you don’t find that in any other book on the planet. There are skeptics that will argue about when Daniel was written, but we will address what they take issue with in a later post.
Updated 12/26/2023, added more information on the divided kingdoms of Greece.