Battle of Raphia - Definition and Overview

The Battle of Raphia, also known as the Battle of Gaza, was a battle of the Syrian Wars between Ptolemy IV of Egypt and Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. Fought on 22 June 217 BC near Gaza. Ptolemy had 70,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and 73 war elephants. Antiochus had 62,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and 103 elephants.

The kings split their elephants between the wings of their army. Each army's right wing defeated the opposing left wing and drove it from the field, leaving the Egyptian phalanx to defeat the Seleucid infantry. Ptolemy's victory kept the province of Syria for Egypt but it was only a brief respite; at the Battle of Paneas in 198 BC Antiochus defeated Ptolemy and captured Palestine and Syria.