Hellenistic Homogeneity Flashcards
What are the three approaches to cultural interactions in the Hellenistic world?
Hellenization: Spread of Greek culture eastwards; in the most extreme version, a one-way process; more recently, more of an active process on part of receptive cultures
Apartheid/separation: stress on the lack of interactions between groups and certainly a de-emphasis on the dominance of Hellenistic culture.
Bilingualism: focus on the individual and their role in cultural interactions through politics and personal affiliations.
What can culture understood to be?
General identity of a group of people expressed through arts and materials
What economic impact did cultural identity have in Ptolemaic E? How did this change?
‘Hellenes’ exempt from obol tax that Egyptians had to pay.
By the 2nd century, Egyptians were managing to avoid it, sometimes by changing their names
In what spheres did cultural interaction occur in Ptol Egypt?
conflict and resistance; intermarriage; E scribal class working in Ptol administration; professional/specialist co-operation (e.g. in medicine)
What meant that Alexandria was a city of consistent inter-cultural relations?
high levels of immigration
What appears to have happened in Alexandria that meant foreigners could feel more at home?
Certain areas more concentrated with the same heritage
What material evidence do we have of bilingualism in Ptolemaic Egypt?
Dream interpretation papyri
Introduction/narratives given in Greek whilst the actual interpretation is Demotic - sense of traditional language for dream interp was Demotic (egyptian)
What variation existed in the degree of intercultural mixing in Ptol Egypt?
The further south you go, the less Greeks and immigrants found
What is evidence as to cultural separation in Egypt?
Ethnic divisions seem to have occurred in Alexandria AND was largely a Greco-Maced population.
Thebes had strong cultural continuities w small immigrant numbers.
Who was Manetho? Significance?
Appears to have been an Egyptian priest during reigns of Ptol I and II.
Appears to have been an agent in the Hellenization of Egyptian culture:
-was involved in est of Cult of Serapis (cult attempting to bring together G and E worshippers)
-his Aegyptica now a crucial work for study of E history, has themes realted to Hell contacts: correcting erroneos Greek history and chronologies for Egypt, and emphasis on the relations betw the two
What pattern can we see in the architecture and decoration of the tombs in the Petosiris-necropolis from late 4th cent to early Roman period?
Increasing influence of Hellenistic practices e.g. location of the body changing from deep shafts to eventually positioned on klinai
What elements of Babylonian culture appear to have been Hellenized?
Art, Architecture, and Institutions
What has been used as evidence of G presence in Babylon? Problem with this?
Greek names in inscription presented in gymnasion.
Greek language and/or names does not equate to Greek ppl, could have been ethnically Babylonian.
What is the most consistent source for cultural interaction in Hellenistic Babylon? Problem with this?
Babylonian Chronicles
Themes: greeks settling in the city under Antiochus IV; Hell kings honouring local deities; diadochi confrontations (ptol III invasion in 3rd c)
How did Uruk differ from Babylon in degrees of Hellenization acc to lit sources? Archaeology?
Uruk had a far greater degree of cultural continuation from previous settlement as opposed to integration with more Hellenistic culture.
Archaeology suggests greater integration e.g. votive terracotta figurines that have both Greek and native stylings either on seperate examples of the numerous pieces or combined on single ones.
Who was Berossus? Signif?
Babylonian man linked with priesthood of Esagil and poss Seleuk royal court.
His name in this form is Greek, originating from native Bel-re’usunu. Wrote Babyloniaca in GREEK but solely aboyr history and customs of Babylonia and Assyria using both mesopotamian and Greek sources - he seemed to have understood both scripts and the nature of the sources well.
What were the Greaco-Babyloniaca tablets? Function?
Clay tablets with cunieform on one side and Greek alph on the other. c2nd BCE-c2nd CE. Generally religious in nature e.g. curses.
Appear to have been educational - teaching babylonians who had lost touch w Sumerian/Akkadian tongue but were familiar w Greek as admin language so this was used for them to read the older script OR school texts written by a student practicing script/language.
In what ways was memory important for many in the Hell world?
as a means of securing a legacy
using the past for gain: links w AtG, mother-colony links, mythological stories
Persian wars as a point of reference
moulding the past and future in order to best impact the present
What and when was the G monument dedicated at Ai Khanoum? Indivs involved? Signif?
;ate 3rd cent, pillar inscribed w 140 Delphic maxims in perfect Greek
Clearchus - the agent behind the transfer of the maxims. Known to have been a philosopher interested in Delphi, as well as Indian, Persian, and Jewish religion.
Cineas - founder of the city that had shrine dedicated to him in which the pillar stood.
setting up delphic maxims was a rather common tradition for G cities, especially w their display in gynamsia.
Evidence of Greek traditions in Ai Khanoum?
gymnasion - of sundial type (previously not attested in material form) w dedication to Hermes and Heracles inscrip.
theatre - c5000 spectators
city planning: grid plan - main street that ran from E-W gates; water infrastucture
Heroon (of Cineas) - greek config and greek style of cult
storage vessels w G labels
What key G civic feature was missing from Ai Khanoum? Expl?
agora
The palace’s large courtyard could well have acted as a replacement
Signif of gymnasion and theatres as evidence of Greekness?
not only greek in construction but attest to v greek activities, esp those of the aristocracy
Features of Ai Khanoum houses? Signif?
main focus = front reception area
limited architectural design
mudbrick
not greek at all
G administration in Ai Khanoum?
G cataloguing system of storage vessels also written in greek
Library w G materials: fragmentary papyrus w writing of a piece appearing to derive from Aristotle school; frags of Plato’s theory of forms. (compare w Perg or Alexandria)
When was large palatial admin building at Ai Khanoum built? Key features?
c150 BCE
storage facilities, large palaestra-like courtyard, corridors (bactrian trad), numerous meeting rooms and offices, arch elaboration like corinthian columns and terracotta palmette antefixes
