As we move away from the Classical Polis, we enter the reign of the Hellenistic and Successor Kingdoms brought about by the radical changes instituted by Philip of Macedon & Alexander the Great. In this episode I explore the archaeology of the Hellenistic Period, and question some of our assumptions around exactly how we define it. Using case studies like Lofkënd & Pella I give an overview of the rise of the Macedonian Ethno-State before looking to the tombs at Vergina and Amphipolis to understand the material culture of these key historical figures like Alexander, Philip & Olympia.

Importantly though, I hope to question and redefine the narrative of Hellenisation and help us reframe it as a process of interaction and response between Greek colonising culture and indigenous agency.

Overview of topics in this episode:

Re-evaluating definitions of Hellenism as a process of cultural interaction & response

Understanding Philip of Macedon's progression from an Ethno-State to territorial empire & his building projects at Pella

Alexander's Successor Kingdoms and their socio-economic structure

The Hellenistic tombs at Vergina & Amphipolis and the debate of whether Philip is buried in Tomb I or II.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Hellenistic Period, especially how you're thinking about and defining it in light of this video below in the comments!

Sources & Bibliography:

Stewart, A. 2008: The Persian and Carthaginian Invasions of 480 B.C.E. and the Beginning of the Classical Style: Part 1, the Stratigraphy, Chronology, and Significance of the Acropolis Deposits. American Journal of Archaeology, 112(3), 377–412

Bopearachchi, O. 2005: Contribution of Greeks to the Art and Culture of Bactria and India: New Archaeological Evidence. Indian Historical Review, 32(1), 103-125

Mairs, R. 2014. The Hellenistic Far East: Archaeology, language, and identity in Greek Central Asia. University of California Press

Prag, J. R. W. and Quinn, J. C. eds, 2013.The Hellenistic West: Rethinking the Ancient Mediterranean. Cambridge University Press.

UCLA Classics. 2007: The Lefkand Archaeological Project. Online. Available at: http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/papadopoul...

Grant, D 2020: The Royal Macedonian Tombs at Vergina. World History Encyclopedia. Online

M. Andronikos, 1976: Anaskafi sti Megali Toumpa tis Verginas. Archaiologica Analekta Athinon 9. 127–129

Chugg, A. 2018: The Occupancy of the Amphipolis Tomb. La Trobe University Seminar Series.

Chugg, A. 2021: The Identity of the Occupant of the Amphipolis Tomb Beneath the Kasta Mound. Macedonian Studies Journal. 2 (1)

Bartsiokas A, Arsuaga JL, Santos E, Algaba M, Gómez-Olivencia A. 2015: The lameness of King Philip II and Royal Tomb I at Vergina, Macedonia. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.

Bartsiokas A. 2000: The eye injury of King Philip II and the skeletal evidence from the royal tomb II at Vergina. Science.

Carney, E. 2017: Commemoration of a Royal Woman as a Warrior: The Burial in the Antechamber of Tomb II at Vergina. Syllecta Classica 27, 109-149

Salminen, E. 2017: The Tomb Doth Protest Too Much?: Constructed Identity in Tomb II at Vergina. In Theoretical Approaches to the Archaeology of Ancient Greece: Manipulating Material Culture, edited by Lisa C. Nevett, 273–94. University of Michigan Press

R. Ginouvès et al., La Macédoine, Paris, 1992
Stathopoulos, P. 2017: Did King Philip II of Ancient Macedonia Suffer a Zygomatico-Orbital Fracture? A Maxillofacial Surgeron’s Approach. Craniomaxillofacial trauma & reconstruction. 10(3), 183-187

Tsokas GN, Tsourlos PI, Kim J H, et al. 2018: ERT Imaging of the Interior of the Huge Tumulus of Kastas in Amphipolis (Northern Greece). Archaeological Prospection. 1-15.

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