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Hellenistic period From the death of Alexander in 323-death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC (4th-1st c. BC) Andromache Karanika, Associate Professor of Classics, UCI CHANGES New World. We have a new COSMOPOLIS (literally a city state comprising the world). Greek is the new common language of government and culture. “From citizens of minuscule city-states on the fringes of the Persian empire, the Greeks had become partners in the new rule of a vast territory that stretched from the Mediterranean to the borders of India.” Ordinary people (Greeks and their subjects) retain traditional values, religions, rituals, practices while changing to adapt to a new world. Globalization of the time. Game of THRONESSuccessors of Alexander Importance of the period New dynamics New state formation Power up for grabs by different people (and groups of people). Imperial new world. Multiethnic world. Changes in philosophy: From Classical Plato and Aristotle (in an aristocratic male dominated environment) philosophies of the Hellenistic Age cater to a broader community. New philosophical trends that speak about human life (stoicism, Epicureanism, Cynicism, Skepticism) and a stance towards life and death. Women are not excluded from many philosophical schools. Women are not excluded from power. Roots for Culture, dissemination of culture, arts, science. Likewise, in visual arts, classical preoccupation with the beautiful young male diminished and the sculptural repertoire expanded to include groups like women (more), children, elderly, away from early notions of beauty, even the deformed. To the right the most famous statue of god HERMES holding baby Dionysus by sculptor PRAXITELES, in the Museum of Olympia, GREECE. Highly representative of CLASSICAL art (5th-4th c. BC). Changes in Art – Going from this – (idealized beauty) Changes in Art: From fascination of classical naked male beauty to different considerations including everyday scenes • • • The so-called OLD MARKET WOMANpossibly a courtesan, statue of a woman carrying chickens, Roman copy of a Hellenistic original of the 3rd or 2nd c BC now at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, NY. The ivy wreath in her head shows connections with Dionysus and the cult of Dionysus (BACCHUS). During the Hellenistic period, artists became concerned with the accurate representation of childhood, old age, and even physical deformity. The range of subject matter was extended to include genre-like figures from the fringes of society. Fine, large-scale statues of fishermen, peasants, and aged courtesans became valued religious dedications, sometimes placed in a park-like setting within the sanctuary of the god. ATHENS AND SPARTA Exceptions to the ‘global’ (as they would know it) political trends. Democracy never fully restored in Athens, but Athens continues to be the center of culture. Cultural changes: THEATER an arena. The great th th tragedies of the past (5 and 4 century) that presented mythological themes and stories no longer dominant. Instead a lighter genre, comedy, (but not the comedy of the classical era which had political sarcasm and arrows) instead the NEW COMEDY. Gentle comedy, plays by MENANDER that reflect the new political order, interests of upper class audience. New literary genre (think of it as the predecessor of European Comic Poets like French Moliere, Italian Commedia Dell’ Arte etc). Reconstruction of POIKILE STOA where Zeno taught (Stoa> STOICS) The building was originally known as the Peisianaktios, from its builder Peisianax. The name Poikile (Painted) is derived from its famous murals painted by artists such as Polygnotos. New cultural centers outside Athens Main cultural centers expanded from mainland Greece to Pergamon, Rhodes, and new Greek colonies such as Seleucia, Antioch and Alexandria of Egypt. Larger number of Greek-speakers gave birth to a common Attic-based Greek dialect, known as Koine. Spread of Greek culture HELLENISTIC EGYPT First Ptolemy I Soter, claimed ownership of Egypt in the period between 323-301 during the “wars of the successors.” All male rulers got the name PTOLEMY. Women preferred names like Cleopatra, Berenice and Arsinoe. The Ptolemies built new temples worshiping the Egyptian gods as well as classical Greek pantheon (conflation, syncretism) adopted the façade of Pharaohs During the reign of Ptolemies II and III Greek veterans were rewarded with grants of farm lands, and Greeks were planted in colonies and garrisons or settled themselves in the villages throughout the country, we have the making of a new ‘colonial’ reality. Land was divided in two categories: ROYAL and RELEASED for other purposes The Released land had four categories: -cleruchic land (by kleros, lot) granted to soldiers -gift land as reward for government officials -temple land to provide support financially for temples -private land for individuals (houses and gardens) Eastern Horizons in the Hellenistic Age Although after the wars of the successors things seemed stable, there was the ‘adjustment of frontiers’ Ptolemy II took over Egypt after his father’s death in 283 and pushed north in Syria, cities in Asia Minor: Miletus, Halicarnassus, and islands in the eastern Aegean (Samos) against the Seleucid Empire, and the leader Antiochus I. Remember the Seleucids (Seleucus I Nicator, satrap of Babylonia connected to Alexander) named his son Antiochus, one of the main names that circulated (as opposed to Ptolemies in Egypt). PTOLEMY I (305 BC–282 BC) and founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty PTOLEMY I (SOTER) and BERENICE (I) They married in 317 and had three children together: two daughters Arsinoe II, Philotera and a son Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Ptolemy left a stable kingdom to his son Ptolemy II. Ptolemy II married Arsinoe I, mother of his legitimate children (the daughter of Lysimachus) whom he accused of plotting against him, divorced her, and later, according to egyptian custom, married his own sister Arsinoe II (hence the name PHILADELPHUS) Ptolemy II Philadelphus 309–246 BCE Major economic activities Textile industry (think of today’s egyptian cotton) Papyrus Oil production- state monopolies (Ok, you understand we mean olive oil….) Limitations on imports Generation of revenues for the royal family through taxes and fees. Strict currency control Extensive ‘business’ administration headquartered in Alexandria for supervision, with agents (Greeks at the upper official and executive level, Egyptian lower administrative). Note my differentiation in the terms. Irrigation system central to agricultural success. King and Queen as joint CEOs of the economic enterprises. Innovative historical work is being done on this front. RING of PTOLEMY VI (Philometor) as Egyptian pharoh (from Louvre Museum, Paris. Note Pharaonic elements In the depiction of Ptolemy Why depiction on a ring? Idea of seal. The MUSEUM of ALEXANDRIA and its LIBRARY Ptolemy I, perhaps with advice from Demetrius I of Phaleron, founded the Museum and LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA. The MUSEUM to be thought as research center supported financially by the king. located in the royal sector of the city. Scholars/scientists were housed in the same sector and funded by the Ptolemaic rulers with full library privileges. The chief librarian served also as the crown prince's tutor the Roman historian Aulus Gellius wrote in his book Attic Nights that the Royal Alexandrian Library was burned by mistake when some of Caesar’s soldiers started a fire around 48 BC, which would have burned about 40.000 books. A number of Hellenistic philologists, scientists and thinkers studied, wrote, and experimented at the museum such as founding fathers of mathematics, engineering, geography, and medicine (Euclid, Archimedes, Aristarchus, later Hypatia when library restored). R Exact layout not known Imaginative Imaginative reconstruction artistic reconstruction of of main street in Alexandria library PAPYRI as SOURCES for HISTORY MEDIA REVOLUTION Many have survived in Egypt because of the dry weather conditions, in several languages. Different sorts of documents from private contracts to religious texts to financial documents to private letters and school kids writings. Papyri preserved (in fragmentary forms) works of earlier and contemporary Greek literature (such as archaic female poet Sappho, or Aristotle). Some examples of papyrological work: http://ancientlives.org/ http://asp.classics.ox.ac.uk/research/projects/papyri.asp Papyri and Library, what it would look like One of the excavated halls of the MOUSEION (MUSEUM), Note theatrical setting Papyri Beatty Ezekiel Chester Daniel-Esther (about 200 ce, papyrus codex); subscriptio and end of Daniel/Susanna (PKoeln Theol 37v, p.196) Papyrology a scholarly discipline today Papyri Another example of an ancient papyrus Some magic on an ancient papyrus… from the collection of “magical papyri” Term ‘magical’ refers to the content/text What about Earlier History of Pergamon? Legend that it was a colony of Arcadians (from the Peloponnese). The earliest surviving evidence is by XENOPHON, ancient historian, classical, who also fought in the area. Xenophon had captured Pergamon in 399 (the same year that Socrates died) but then Pergamon was recaptured by the Persians. LYSIMACHUS, king of Thrace had taken possession of it by 301, but then soon after the kingdom of Thrace collapsed. Philetaerus, Lysimachus’ lieutenant, had enlarged the city. After the collapse of Lysimachus’ kingdom in Thrace, Pergamon became the center of a new kingdom. Philetaerus bequeathed his possessions to his nephew Eumenes I (263-241) in 261, who increased them and left as his heir Attalus I (241-197 BC). Dynasty of the ATTALIDS. PERGAMON (also Romanized name PERGAMUM) Currently located (16 mi) from the Aegean Sea on a promontory on the north side of river Caicus (modern town in Turkey, Bergama). It was an ancient city that was reconstructed in a grander scale in the Hellenistic period The Attalids were admired in antiquity as some sources show they supported art (patrons of skilled artisans) and were careful with taxation. Greek cities in their domains to maintained autonomy. They sent gifts to Greek sacred places like Delphi and Delos, and cultivated relations with Athens. They remodeled the Acropolis of Pergamon after the Acropolis in Athens. Sacred Space Athena, Temples. The Sanctuary of Asclepius in Pergamon became famous and was considered one of the most famous therapeutic and healing centers of the Roman world. The most famous medical writer and physician Galen (2nd c. AD) was born at Pergamon and received his early training at the Asclepeion of Pergamon. th 19 c. sketch of Pergamon (reconstruction) Pergamon Theater on the slopes of hill Dr. Karanika at the Pergamon Theater Great Altar of Zeus From Pergamon Museum in Berlin From BERLINPERGAMON MUSEUM http://www.smb.museum/en/museumsandinstitutions/pergamonmuseum/home.html Model of the Acropolis of Pergamon Library of Pergamum Pergamum had 200,000 volumes, according to Plutarch. Built by Eumenes II and situated at the northern end of the Acropolis, it became one of the most important ancient libraries. Ancient suggestion that all of the 200,000 volumes at Pergamum were to given to Cleopatra for the Library of Alexandria as a wedding present, emptying the shelves and ending the dominance of the Library at Pergamum . When the Ptolemies stopped exporting papyrus, partly because of competitors and partly because of shortages, the Pergamenes invented a new substance to use in codices, called pergamum, greek word: Pergamene, after the city. This was made of fine calfskin, a predecessor of paper. Making parchment- pergamene PERGAMUM Making parchment Frankfurt Drawing (from 16th c.) BACK TO ALEXANDRIA-CLEOPATRA (VII, Philopator) Daughter of Ptolemy XII, Auletes (=flute player) 69-30 BC. Her chosen cult name “Philopator” (=father-loving) shows her close relationship with her father. The identity of Cleopatra's mother is unknown, but she is generally believed to be Cleopatra V Tryphaena of Egypt, the sister or cousin and wife of Ptolemy XII Auletes (some controversy on this). She was raised to the status of joint ruler from 55 BC on (she was just 14 years old) with her father, and also her brother, Ptolemy XIII whom she also married as it was the custom among Ptolemies and other royal families. Her father died in 51 so 18 year old Cleopatra and 10 year old Ptolemy got the Ptolemaic throne. Her history intertwined with the history of Rome. She was driven away from the throne after getting in conflict with the Roman troops in Egypt and the regent of Ptolemy XIII, a eunuch called Pothinus> Cleopatra on exile in Syria with her sister Arsinoe IV. What was going on in Rome at the time that affected Cleopatra’s fortune? Civil war. Battle between Caesar and Pompey (battle at Pharsalus, 48 BC) Julius Caesar defeated the troops of the Roman Senate, under the command of Pompey the Great. Caesar's victory marked the end of the Roman Republic. Beginning of empire Cleopatra started amassing an army close to Egypt’s borders and sought an alliance with Caesar and the Egyptian throne back for herself. Became Caesar’s lover. Also married her younger brother Ptolemy XIV (who was only 11 years old). The relationship between Cleopatra and Caesar was obvious to the Roman people and caused a scandal because the Roman dictator was already married to Calpurnia. SOURCES- propaganda against Affair of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar Caesar spent his winter in Egypt in 48-47. She soon became pregnant by Caesar and she gave birth to a son, Ptolemy XV also called Caesarion or Little Caesar. Cleopatra and Caesarion visited Rome between 46 BC and 44 BC. As a foreign head of state, she was not allowed inside Rome's pomerium (boundary religiously sanctioned around city of Rome and its surroundings) In 44 B.C., Caesar was stabbed to death at the Senate in Rome > While in Rome there would be reaction against her. Cleopatra fled back to Egypt. Life goes on: Mark Anthony In 42 BC, Mark Antony, one of the triumvirs (with Octavian –later Augustus- and Lepidus, the three man commission for the restoration of the Roman Republic (triumviri rei publicae constituendae) and who ruled Rome in the power vacuum following Caesar's death, summoned Cleopatra to meet him in Tarsus. Cleopatra arrived in great state, and so charmed Antony that he chose to spend the winter of 42 BC–41 BC with her in Alexandria. During the winter, she became pregnant with twins, who were named Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios. He and Cleopatra had another child, Ptolemy Philadelphus. Bust of Cleopatra, Museum Berlin Relief of Cleopatra and Caesarion at the Temple of Hathor (Egyptian Goddess) in Dendera, Egypt Statue of Cleopatra as Egyptian goddess Basalt, second half of the 1st century BC. Hermitage, Saint Petersburg Last phase of Civil Wars in Rome. Battle of Philippi (northeastern Greece) in 42, forces of Mark Anthony vs Octavian. FINAL Defeat of forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII, in ACTIUM in 31 BC, city in Ionian Sea (western Greece) Queen Cleopatra, Coin minted in Syria Understanding Cleopatra’s death Roman propaganda against her for reasons that are easy to understand (she was a threat to traditional Roman values, a ‘foreigner,’ well educated etc etc). Her enemies in Rome feared that Cleopatra "was planning a war of revenge that was to array all the East against Rome, establish herself as empress of the world at Rome, cast justice from Capitolium, and inaugurate a new universal kingdom.” Danger to Roman spirit, or female danger to Roman spirit? Lost works by Cleopatra