A Seleukid Prosopography And Gazetteer

The Prosopography notes all people who lived in or were concerned with the great Seleukid empire; the Gazetteer lists the places, peoples and institutions of that empire; their activites are noted, providing a unique comprehensive guide to the kingdom.

The Seleukid kingdom was one of the greatest states of the ancient world, stretching from Greece to India; it is also one of the least known. This reference work lists all the people whose names are known who lived in that kingdom, classifying them into rulers, officials and subjects, and in each case noting their activity. In addition all the foreigners whose lives affected the Seleukid state are listed. The Gazetteer lists the places which were included in the kingdom, classified as regions, including provinces and peoples, or settlements, whether cities or villages, with a description of their place in its history. In addition the institutions of the kingdom, the social and political glue which made it work, are noted and briefly described.

This aim of this work is to provide part of the basis for the study of a widely misunderstood people of Ancient Greece, the Aitolians. It is the people of any society who are its constituents, and only when we know who they were and what they did can that society be properly investigated. By accumulating a list of all known Aitolians, their origins, parentage, their place in the society, and any other details discoverable, it is possible to reconstitute Aitolian families, and to study various sections and aspects of their society. The prosopography and the studies based on it form part of the essential background for the author's history of The League of the Aitolians (published by Brill earlier in 1999), and they also form a contribution to the study of the society which was Ancient Greece.

Before Alexander, the Near East was ruled by dynasts who could draw on the significant resources and power base of their homeland, but this was not the case for the Seleukids who never controlled their original homeland of Macedon. The Early Seleukids, their Gods and their Coins argues that rather than projecting an imperialistic Greek image of rule, the Seleukid kings deliberately produced images that represented their personal power, and that were comprehensible to the majority of their subjects within their own cultural traditions. These images relied heavily on the syncretism between Greek and local gods, in particular their ancestor Apollo. The Early Seleukids, their Gods and their Coins examines how the Seleukids, from Seleukos I to Antiochos IV, used coinage to propagandise their governing ideology. It offers a valuable resource to students of the Seleukids and of Hellenistic kingship more broadly, numismatics, and the interplay of ancient Greek religion and politics.

The story of the man who ruled a sprawling ancient empire and strove to defend it against the Roman Republic. A teenage king in 223 BC, Antiochus III inherited an empire in shambles, ravaged by civil strife and eroded by territorial secessions. But he proved himself a true heir of Alexander—defeating rebel armies and embarking on a campaign of conquest and reunification. Although repulsed by Ptolemy IV at the Battle of Raphia, his eastern campaigns reaffirmed Seleucid hegemony as far as modern Afghanistan and Pakistan. Returning westward, he defeated Ptolemy V at Panion and succeeded in adding Koile Syria to the Seleucid realm. At the height of his powers, he challenged growing Roman power, unimpressed by their recent successes against Carthage and Macedon. His expeditionary force was crushed at Thermopylae and evacuated. Refusing to bow before Roman demands, Antiochus energetically mobilized against Roman invasion, but was again decisively defeated at the epic battle of Magnesia. Despite the loss of territory and prestige enshrined in the subsequent Peace of Apamea, Antiochus III left the Seleucid Empire in far better condition than he found it. Although sometimes presented as a failure against the unstoppable might of Rome, Antiochus III must rank as one of the most energetic and effective rulers of the ancient world. This book narrates his eventful career—and examines Seleucid military organization and royal administration.

Dedicated to Getzel M. Cohen, a leading expert in Seleucid history, this volume gathers 45 contributions on Seleucid history, archaeology, numismatics, political relations, policy toward the Jews, Greek cities, non-Greek populations, peripheral and neighboring regions, imperial administration, economy and public finances, and ancient descriptions of the Seleucid Empire. The reader will gain an international perspective on current research.

Containing over 800 biographies of individuals known from the literary and epigraphic sources for the age of Alexander, this book features entries ranging from leading commanders in Alexander's army to the nobles and regional leaders of the Persian empire whom he encountered on his epic campaign.

" In short, this is a reference work of the best kind. For the beginner, it is indispensable. And for those who already know something about its subject matter, the book is in many ways useful, informative, and interesting. We all owe a debt to the author] for undertaking this significant project, and for completing it so well." - Michael Peachin, Classical World " . . . provides invaluable road maps for non-epigraphers faced with passages of inscribed Greek." - Graham Shipley, Bryn Mawr Classical Review Greek inscriptions form a valuable resource for the study of all aspects of the Greco-Roman world. They are primary witnesses to society's laws and institutions, religious habits, and language. This volume provides students with the tools to take advantage of the historical value of these treasures. It examines letter forms, ancient names, and ancient calendars, knowledge of which is essential in reading inscriptions of all kinds. B. H. McLean discusses the classification of inscriptions into their various categories and analyzes particular types of inscriptions, including decrees, honorary inscriptions, dedications, funerary inscriptions, and manumissions. Finally, McLean includes special topics that bear upon the interpretation of specific features of inscriptions, such as Greek and Roman administrative titles and functions.