This thesis argues that the iconography on Seleucid coins was created in order to appeal to the various ethnic groups within the empire and thereby reinforced the legitimacy of the dynasty. It first examines the iconography of Seleucus I and argues that as Seleucus became more secure in his rule he began to develop a new iconography that was a blend of Alexander’s and his own. This pattern changed under Antiochus I. He replaced the Zeus of Alexander and of Seleucus with Apollo-on-the-omphalos. At approximately the same time, a dynastic myth of descent from Apollo was created and promulgated. It is argued that in addition to the traditional view that Apollo was readily identifiable to the Greco-Macedonians within the empire he was also accessible to the Babylonians through the god Nabû and to the Persians as a Greek (or Macedonian) version of the reigning king. This ambiguity made Apollo an ideal figure to represent the multi-ethnic ruling house. This also explains the dynasty’s reluctance to deviate from the iconography established by Antiochus I. This thesis continues to explore the role of Apollo and other gods in creating an iconography which represented Seleucid power ending with the reign of Antiochus III. This thesis also incorporates the numismatic representations of the king as divine into the debate on ruler cult. This evidence suggests that the Seleucids may have had some form of ruler cult before the reign of Antiochus III.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 198-204).

Zugl.: Kassel, Univ., Diss., 2006

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Universität Bonn, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [260]-290).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2008. / "Graduate Program in Art History." Includes bibliographical references (p. 179-185).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Universität Bonn, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [260]-290).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Princeton University, 1970. / Includes indexes. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 327-336).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Universität Bonn, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [260]-290).

The Seleucid Empire (312–63 BCE) of the Hellenistic period was one of the largest and most ethnically diverse imperial systems of the classical world. Owing to the limited coverage of archaeological surveys and inadequately dated archaeological remains, however, very little is known about the Hellenistic and, specifically, Seleucid countryside. In this dissertation, I draw on two landscape-based archaeological surveys conducted in Hatay Province of south-central Turkey, the Mopsos Survey and the Yumurtalık Survey, and focus on three contiguous and naturally bounded coastal plains (Rhosus, Alexandreia, and Issus). Additionally, I present a full analysis and chronological revision of ceramics stemming from these surveys. I bring these two primary classes of evidence together to explore settlement dynamics in the Hellenistic countryside across discrete chronological periods: Early Hellenistic (300–225 BCE); Middle Hellenistic (225–150 BCE); Late Hellenistic (150–25 BCE); Early Roman (25 BCE–40 CE); and Middle Roman 1 (40–130 CE). To assess ancient settlement dynamics — here defined as variations in the configuration of human occupation across a given space — I employ archaeological survey data capable of reflecting settlement size, location, distribution, and quantity as well as physical landscape considerations such as the availability of natural resources and proximity to overland and maritime trading routes. This dissertation demonstrates that it is possible to pursue topics of study within the Hellenistic era and outside the major urban spheres using survey data and a detailed reading of associated ceramics with updated typologies. The Hellenistic countryside of south-central Turkey had different demographic trajectories, which ultimately led to different configurations of settlement within the three plains studied. From a regional perspective, this work has explained and delineated a settlement change first identified by early-to-mid twentieth century travelers and archaeologists. It has also heeded the calls of recent scholars bemoaning the poor state of archaeological evidence reflecting the Seleucid countryside by devising methods that, for the first time, give the Seleucid realm a discrete periodization scheme for areas outside well-studied urban spheres, thereby fostering a new avenue of scholarly inquiry. / 2017-12-31T00:00:00Z