As we reach the end of the Hellenistic Period, and the decline of the Successor Kingdoms, the new power of the Romans rose in the West, eventually subsuming Greece under the Roman provincial name of Achaia. Prior to that though, I want to explore the interaction between Late Hellenistic kingdoms and indigenous Eastern communities, and what that can tell us about ideas of "Greekness".

Notably, sites like Ai Khanoum in Afghanistan mark the furthest edges of the Greek world in the province of Bactria, and give us some interesting insights into how Hellenistic culture adapted local influences. The amazing site of Nimrut Dagi, and the tomb of Antiochus I shows us just how syncretic and influential certain rulers could be.

As we move into the Roman period, I discuss the political and social changes brought about by Roman rule under the empire, and -perhaps more importantly, some of the religious changes we see throughout Greece with the advent of the Imperial Cult under Augustus.

Overview of topics in this episode:

The Graeco Bactrian kingdom around Ai Khanoum in Afghanistan and what it can tell us about Greek interactions with indigenous eastern centres and communities

Nemrut Dagi and Antiochus I building projects and how the colossal statues show semblances of religious fusions between native Persian & Armenian tradition and Hellenic art styles

The Roman annexation of Greece and its transformation into Achaia, including the socio-political changes it brought about

Roman religious reforms brought about by emperor Augustus and the Greek reception of the Imperial Cult.

Let me know what you think of the Romans & their treatment of the Greeks in the comments below!

Sources & Bibliography:

Alcock, S. 1993: Graecia Capta: the Landscapes of Roman Greece, pp. 1‑32, 33‑92, 93‑128, 172‑214

Alcock, S. 1997: Greece: a landscape of resistance? In D. J. Mattingly (ed.) Dialogues in Roman imperialism : power, discourse, and discrepant experience in the Roman Empire, 103-115

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.

Martin-Mcauliffe, S. L. and J. K. Papadopoulos. 2012: Framing Victory: Salamis, the Athenian Acropolis, and the Agora. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 71(3): 332-361.
Erskine, A. 2003: A companion to the Hellenistic world (Blackwell companions to the ancient world. Ancient history). Oxford: Blackwell Publishing
Leriche, P. 2007: Bactria, Land of a Thousand Cities. In Cribb, J; Herrmann, Georgina (eds.). After Alexander: Central Asia Before Islam. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Lerner, J. 2010: Revising the Chronologies of the Hellenistic Colonies of Samarkand-Marakanda (Afrasiab II-III) and Aï Khanoum (Northeastern Afghanistan). Anabasis: Studia Classica et Orientalia (1): 58–79

Goell, T. 1957: The Excavation of the "Hierothesion" of Antiochus I of Commagene on Nemrud Dagh (1953-1956). Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. The University of Chicago Press. 147: 4–22

Brijder, H A.G., ed. 2014: Nemrud Dağı: Recent archaeological research and conservation activities in the tomb sanctuary on Mount Nemrud. Boston, MA / Berlin, DE: Walter de Gruyter

Boatwright, M T. 2003: Hadrian and the Cities of the Roman Empire. Princeton University Press,

Martinez-Sève, Laurianne. 2014: The Spatial Organization of Ai Khanoum, a Greek City in Afghanistan.. American Journal of Archaeology 118 (2): 269

Andreeva, P. 2018: Fantastic Beasts Of The Eurasian Steppes: Toward A Revisionist Approach To Animal-Style Art. PhD Thesis, Parsons School of Design.

Mourtzas, N, Kolaiti, E. 2017: Geoarchaeology of the Roman harbour of Ierapetra (SE Crete, Greece). Géoarchéologie du port romain d’Ierapetra (Crète sud‑orientale, Grèce)

Find me on the internet:

►TWITTER: https://x.com/ChrisLyonX
►INSTAGRAM:   / mystaiofficial  
►FACEBOOK:   / mystaiofficial  
►SUBSTACK: https://chrislyon.substack.com
►DISCORD:   / discord  
►PATREON:   / mystaiofficial  

I am currently teaching a lecture series on Ancient & Late Antique Hermeticism. Do check it out!   / mystaiofficial  

#hellenisticastrology #nemrut #nemrutdağı #antiochus #romangreece #imperialcult #romanreligion #greekhistory