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Seleucus I Nicator ► Selkirk I 1717
the last, the empire was at its height. Resistance to the power and spread of Hellenistic culture soon began to manifest itself in the Asian lands. Antiochus Ill’s encounter with the Romans signaled decline, especially after the defeat of 190. The decline accelerated after the death of Antio¬ chus IV (r. 175-164), who lost Judaea to the Maccabees. The efforts of Demetrius I and Antiochus VII could not forestall the dynasty’s inevi¬ table end at the hands of the Roman Pompey the Great in 64 bc.
Seleucus I Nicator \so- , lu-k9s...ni- , ka-t3r\ (b. c. 358, Europus, Macedonia—d. August/September 281 bc, near Lysimachia, Thrace) Macedonian army officer, founder of the Seleucid dynasty. After the death of Alexander the Great, under whom he had served, Seleucus won an empire centred on Syria and Iran. Having been ousted by Antigonus I Monophthalmus and serving Ptolemy, Seleucus reconquered Babylon in 312. He declared himself king in 305. By 303 he had extended his empire to India. In 301 he helped defeat Antigonus at the Battle of Ipsus and received Syria, later taking southern Syria from Ptolemy. A marriage alli¬ ance with Demetrius I Poliorcetes's daughter soured, and in 294, when his son became sick with love for Seleucus’s wife (the son’s stepmother), he gave her to him and made the son coregent. Hoping to reestablish Alex¬ ander’s empire, Seleucus captured Demetrius (285) and defeated Lysima- chus (281), another of Alexander’s former generals who had become a satrap in Asia Minor. Later while attempting to enter Macedonia, he was murdered.
Seleucus II Callinicus X.ka-b-'nI-kosN Latin "Gloriously Victori¬ ous" (b. c. 265—d. 225 bc) Fourth king (r. 246-225) of the Seleucid dynasty. He became ruler when his mother poisoned his father, Antiochus II, and proclaimed him king. Her supporters made away with his Egyp¬ tian stepmother, Bernice, daughter of Ptolemy II, whom Antiochus had briefly married. Ptolemy III, Bernice’s brother, responded by invading Seleucus’s kingdom and taking the eastern provinces. Seleucus managed to regain northern Syria and part of Iran but was defeated by his brother (c. 235), now supported by their mother, and ceded territory beyond the Taurus River. He died in a fall from his horse.
self-defense In criminal law, an affirmative defense (e.g., to a murder charge) alleging that the defendant used serious force necessarily for self¬ protection. The claim of self-defense must normally rely on a reasonable belief that the other party intended to inflict great bodily harm or death and that avoidance by retreating was impossible. See also homicide.
Self-Defense Force Japan’s military after World War II. In Article 9 of Japan’s postwar constitution, the Japanese renounced war and pledged never to maintain land, sea, or air forces. The rearming of Japan in the 1950s was therefore cast in terms of self-defense. In 1950 a small mili¬ tary force called the National Police Reserve was created; this became the National Safety Force in 1952 and the Self-Defense Force in 1954. Osten¬ sibly it was never to be used outside Japan or its waters; consequently, Self-Defense Force participation in UN peacekeeping missions or relief work has sparked vigorous debate in Japan and abroad, especially among nations that were victims of Japanese aggression in World War II.
self-determination Process by which a group of people, usually pos¬ sessing a degree of political consciousness, form their own state and gov¬ ernment. The idea evolved as a byproduct of nationalism. According to the UN charter, a people has the right to form itself into a state or to oth¬ erwise determine the form of its association with another state, and every state has the right to choose its own political, economic, social, and cul¬ tural systems. Moreover, the administering authorities of dependent ter¬ ritories are enjoined to ensure political advancement and the development of self-government in those territories.
self-esteem Sense of personal worth and ability that is fundamental to an individual’s identity. Family relationships during childhood are believed to play a crucial role in its development. Parents may foster self¬ esteem by expressing affection and support for the child as well as by helping the child set realistic goals for achievement instead of imposing unreachably high standards. Karen Horney asserted that low self-esteem leads to the development of a personality that excessively craves approval and affection and exhibits an extreme desire for personal achievement. According to Alfred Adler’s theory of personality, low self-esteem leads people to strive to overcome their perceived inferiorities and to develop strengths or talents in compensation.
self-fertilization Fusion of male and female sex cells (gametes) pro¬ duced by the same individual. This type of fertilization occurs in bisexual
organisms, including most flowering plants, numerous protozoans, and many invertebrates. Many organisms capable of self-fertilization can also reproduce by means of cross-fertilization. As an evolutionary mechanism, self-fertilization allows an isolated individual to create a local population and stabilizes desirable genetic strains, but it fails to provide a significant degree of variability within a population and thereby limits the possibili¬ ties for adaptation to environmental change.
self-heal Perennial weed (Prunella vulgaris) in the MINT family, native to North America and widespread throughout the continent. Growing 6-14 in. (14-36 cm) tall, self-heal is often a low weed in lawns. The often-prostrate branches root readily wherever they touch soil. Tiny, two¬ lipped, lilac-coloured or white flowers are clustered into noticeable dense, spikes. Leaves have sparsely toothed or smooth margins. Regarded in medieval times as a cure-all, the dried leaves and flowers are still brewed for soothing sore throats.
self-incrimination In criminal law, the giving of evidence that might tend to expose the witness to punishment for a crime. The term is gen¬ erally used in relation to the privilege of refusing to give such evidence. In some continental European countries (e.g., Germany), a person fear¬ ing self-incrimination may make his own decision as to whether or not he will testify. In Anglo-American practice, a person other than an accused cannot refuse to testify; he may only cite his privilege against self¬ incrimination, and the judge then decides whether he must testify. If required to testify, he must answer all questions except those he consid¬ ers to be self-incriminating. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitu¬ tion contains a provision that protects a person from being compelled to make self-incriminating statements, one intention being to prevent coer¬ cion of testimony. See also rights of the accused; exclusionary rule.
Selim \se-'lem\ III (b. Dec. 24, 1761, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire—d. July 29, 1808, Constan¬ tinople) Ottoman sultan (r. 1789—
1807). He inherited the throne during a losing war with Austria and Russia (1787-92), with whom he later signed treaties. Napoleon I’s inva¬ sion of Egypt in 1798 drove him into an alliance with Britain and Russia, but, impressed with Napoleon’s suc¬ cesses, he switched sides in 1806. At home he attempted tax and land reform and established a European- style military corps, but, unable to enforce his reforms in the face of mutinies among the Janissaries and other units, he rescinded them. He was promptly overthrown and was strangled on the orders of his succes¬ sor, Mustafa IV.
Selin us \si-'li-n3s\ Ancient Greek city, southern coast of Sicily.
Founded by Greek colonists in the 7th century bc, Selinus achieved great prosperity in the 5th century bc, the time when its Doric temples were being built. In 409 bc it was destroyed by a Carthaginian army aiding the inhabitants of the rival city of Segesta. It never truly recovered, and in 250 bc the Carthaginians finally demolished it. Its extensive ruins include the remains of eight temples.