Midterm Flashcards
Alexander Mosaic
Mosaic dating to ~100 BCE. From the House of Faun. Thought to be plunder or copy of a lost painting. Depicts Battle of Issus. Darius the focus. Shows Alexander conquering and Darius fleeing
Alexander Sarcophagus
Dates to 312 BCE. Shows Battle of Issos. Tomb of a king, but not Alexander
Apis Bull
Custom at Memphis. Bull the embodiment of Ptah. When it died, gained name Osiris-Apis and was embalmed and buried at Saqqara. Alexander respected this custom whereas his predecessors did not
Cartonnage
Papyrus that has been coated with stucco to make funerary masks or mummy portraits. Frequently used government documents. Part of papyrological sources for this period
Divine kingship
In Egyptian religion, king not immortal, but his position granted him a special relation with the gods. So, the oracle declaring Alexander the son of a god not that unusual for the Egyptians. But very unusual for Greeks
Epigraphical evidence
Preserved inscriptions on a stela, which is a stone, slab, pillar, or column with carvings or inscriptions. Examples include the stelae with honors for Antiochus I and Cassander and the Sandwich marble
Hellenistic
Literally Greekish or Greekifying. Covers 323 to 30 BCE, from death of Alexander to death of Cleopatra. Marked by changes in institutions and governments. Advancements in science and inventions, especially in math and astronomy
Historiography
Writing of history and written history. Hellenistic historiography substantially expanded it to include new themes, styles, and genres because of need to example new events, lands, and peoples. Nurtured by patronage of Hellenistic monarchs, Roman aristocrats, and growth of libraries and other centers of scholarship. Included folktales and legends. Universal histories emerge
Numismatic evidence
Coins. During Hellenistic period, practice of putting heads of real people. as opposed to gods, begins
Oracle of Zeus-Ammon
At Siwa Oasis. After Battle of Issus, declares Alexander the son of Amun. He then considers himself divine afterwards and depicts himself as such
Oxyrhynchus
Excavated by Bernard Grenfell and Arthur Hunt. Town dump that remained intact to the 19th century CE and presented ideal condition for preservation of papyri. Source of 70% of all papyri. Includes shopping lists, prices, government documents, etc. Most are Roman or Byzantine
Papyrus
Ancient form of paper
Proskynesis
Persian custom of prostrating oneself before the king, implying submission and worship. Alexander tried to have his entourage adopt it, but was not successful. Not clear how much he himself had adopted it
Rosetta Stone
Stele inscribed with hieroglyphs, Demotic, and Greek. Dates to ~196 BCE.
Stela
A stone, slab, pillar, or column with carvings or inscriptions
Syncretism
Combining of gods into a single entity or conflating different gods with each other. Very common in Egyptian theology. Zeus and Amun were conflated, as were Isis and Demeter. Amun conflated with Ra
The Great King
Title for king of Persia. Alexander becomes it when he defeats Darius III, then the ruling king of Persia, at the Battle of Issus in 333 BCE
Parian Marble
Stele set up at Paris consisting of two fragments. One covers history from 1581/0 to 355/4 BCE. The other covers from 336/5 to 299/8. Mostly political and religious history. Claims to have been derived from written records. Made in 264/3. Source for Alexander
Battle of Chaironea
338 BCE battle fought between Philip of Macedon and Greek poleis led by Athens. Major victory for Philip. Alexander’s cavalry very important to his win. Led to Alexander being seen as Philip’s successor
Battle of Granicus
334 BCE battle fought between Alexander and Persian Empire. Defeat of many Persian satraps. Leads to Alexander acquiring much of Asia Minor
Battle of Issus
333 BCE battle between Alexander and Persian Empire led by Darius III. Major defeat for Persian Empire as Darius III fled the battle, leaving his family in Alexander’s hands. Leads to great reduction of Persian power
Battle of Gaugamela
331 BCE battle between Alexander and Persian Empire. Leads to fall of Persian Empire and Alexander gaining Babylon, much of Persia, and Mesopotamia
Battle of Hydaspes
326 battle between Alexander and King Porus of Paurava. Leads to opening up of India and Greek control of northern India
Aristotle
384-322. Born in Stagira as the son of Amyntas II’s court physician. Moved to Athens at 17 to study at Plato’s Academy. Became Alexander’s tutor in 342 BCE
Pella
Historical capital of Macedon during Alexander’s reign
Kyrene
Greek colony in Libya. Known for practicing syncretism and the school of philosophy named after the polis. Taken over by Ptolemy I, who reforms its constitutions and puts himself in charge. Magas its viceroy under Ptolemy II
Memphis
Traditional capital of Egypt. Apis Bull custom performed there
Demosthenes
384-322 orator. Opposed Philip of Macedon in multiple speeches. First Philippic in 351 accuses him of ruling by fear and being a threat to Athens. Warns that Athens’ inaction will allow more like him to come later. First Olynthiac in 349 demands Athens help its ally, Olynthus, fight Philip. Second through fourth Philippics in 344, 341, and 341 again
Gymnasium
Originally a place of exercise to prepare young men as soldiers. Became intellectual centers in 4th century with philosophers. Found in Ai Khanoum, for example
Koine
“Common” Greek. Dialect of Hellenistic period. Very close to Attic Greek. Language of New Testament
Philoi
Literally means friends. Advisors to kings of Macedon. Sometimes served as a council. Replaced Alexander’s hetairoi (companions). Part of being a successful king
Synoikismos
Combining several smaller communities to form a single, larger one. Sometimes purely political and did not affect the communities. Other times, involved migration of citizens to new city.
Ai Khanoum
Also known as Alexandria on the Oxus. In present-day Afghanistan. Had elements of Greek culture, like gymnasium, theater, and acropolis. Clearchus’ inscription there and records Delphic maxims in high-quality lettering. Disk of Cybele there (~328-135) and shows her. Statue of Heracles from temple center and dates to ~328-135
Philip II
King of Macedon from 359-336. Last son of Amyntas III and Eurydice. Instituted use of phalanx. Expanded territory of Macedon to include Thrace. Defeats Thebes in Third Sacred War. Promised Amphipolis to Athens, but never turned it over. Defeats mainland Greek forces in 338 battle of Chaironea and founds League of Corinth. Father of Alexander III. Assassinated in 336 by Pausanias, his bodyguard
Satrap
Governor of provinces in Persian Empire. Somewhat independent, but also influenced by ruling hegemonies
Olympias
Wife of Philip II and mother of Alexander III. Attempted to regain control over Macedon, but is killed in 316
Satrap stela
Stela bearing royal decree of Ptolemy II proclaiming himself king of Egypt
Battle of Ipsus
301 battle between Antigonos I and Demetrius the Besieger against Kassander, Lysimachus, and Seleukos. Defeat for Antigonos, ending his hopes of reunifying the kingdom