Introduction. The Seleukids and the Longue Durée

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1 Preface... xi Introduction 1. Benefactors of the Greeks, Kings of the Macedonians and Rulers over as many Barbarians as possible? Reassessing the Seleukid Empire Benefactors, Kings or Rulers? Reassessing the Seleukid Empire The Seleukids and the Longue Durée 2. Middle Eastern Feudalism and Seleukid Dissolution Introduction Dissolution or Feudalisation of an Empire? The Satraps Rural Societies and Cities The King Conclusion Some Reflections on the Use of the Titles Great King and King of Kings from the 3 rd to the 1 st Century BC Introduction Assyrians and Achaimenids Alexander and the Seleukids Parthia Pontos Armenia Conclusion The Achaimenid and the Seleukid Court: Continuity or Change? Introduction The Court s Institutions The Politics of Personnel The Architectural Setting... 89

2 VI 4.5. Literary Descriptions Conclusion Founding the Seleukid Empire: Seleukos I and Antiochos I 5. conquest and Administration: The Upper Satrapies under the Early Seleukids Introduction Establishing the Seleukid Power in the East Antiochos as Governor of the Upper Satrapies The Satrapies and their Officials Seleukid Officials with Local Background? Introduction Andragoras and the Andragorids Sophytos Oxyartes The Frataraka Social Structures and Iranian Nobility in the Upper Satrapies Conclusion Creating a New Empire: Colonisation, Syncretism, Exploration and Defence Introduction Staying Greek, Becoming Seleukid? Founding Colonies Antiochos I and Early Seleukid Colonisation in the East Constructing a New Imperial koine Defining Space Defending Space Conclusion apama, the Fire Sanctuary of Antiocheia and the Persian Feast of Damaskos: The Early Seleukids and the Religions of Iran Introduction Alexander and Zoroastrianism Apama and the Achaimenids Seleukos I and Mazdean Symbolism Antiochos Persian Feast Conclusion

3 VII Centre and Periphery 8. A New Frataraka Chronology Introduction The Archaeological and Literary Evidence The Numismatic Evidence Ardashir Vahbarz Vadfradat I Bagadat Chronology: High or Low? High Chronology Low Chronology Towards a New Model of Frataraka History Ardashir Vahbarz a Rebel? The Word krny The Legend on Coin c The Control Monogram and the Historical Context The Stabbed Soldier Vadfradat I Bagadat Conclusion antiochos III the Great and His Empire: Some Thoughts on the Feudalisation of the Seleukid Periphery Introduction Regaining the Periphery: an Overview of the New Seleukid Client States Media Atropatene Armenia Parthia Margiane and Sogdiane Baktria India Arachosia Areia Drangiane Karmania

4 VIII Persis Kappadokia Galatia Pergamon Arabia, Gerrha, Judaia and Egypt Conclusion The Gymnasion of Jerusalem and the Revolt of the Maccabees: Sports, Religion and Politics Introduction Gymnasia in the Seleukid Empire the Cultural and Institutional Situation of Jerusalem in the 2 nd Century The Antiocheians in Jerusalem The Gymnasion of Jerusalem On the Road towards Hellenisation Conclusion Continuity and Reception 11. a Syrian Sicily? Seleukid Aspects of the First Sicilian Slave War and the Reign of Eunous-Antiochos Introduction The First Sicilian Slave War King Antiochos Conclusion The Civic Elites of the Colonies of the Syrian Tetrapolis between Seleukids, Armenians, Parthians and Romans Introduction From Antiochos IV to Tigranes General Historical Development Prosopographical Evidence From Tigranes to Augustus General Historical Development Prosopographical Evidence Antiocheia Seleukeia Laodikeia Apameia

5 IX Conclusion Local Elites Expectations of the People The People s Expectations of the Local Elites local Elites Expectations of the Imperial Administration the Imperial Administration s Expectations of the Local Elites Prodigies and Religious Propaganda: Seleukos and Augustus Introduction Birth Prodigies concerning Alexander, Seleukos and Augustus Further Similarities Conclusion Epilogue 14. the Man Who Would Be King: 19 th Century Colonialism and the Construction of the Hellenistic Empires. An (Im)possible Comparison? Introduction Discovering the Unknown Religion Royal Legitimacy Founding a New Aristocracy Civilisation and Ideology Colony and Metropolis Colonisation and Organisation Technical Superiority Continuity and Rupture Returning Home or Going Native? Local and Foreign Domination The Fragility of Power Conclusion Bibliography Copyright Statement General Index

The Seleucid Empire. The once powerful Achamenian Empire fell at the hands of Alexander the Great of

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