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The study of royal women has been one of the most dynamic fields of inquiry into the Hellenistic world (ca. 336-30 BC) and has dramatically shifted our perceptions of gender, status, and influence in the ancient world. Amid numerous works on the Ptolemies, Antigonids, and Argeads, this volume is the first to examine the roles and representations of the women of the Seleukid dynasty and its clients. These royal women were born or married into a dynasty that ruled an empire spanning dozens of cultures and languages, encompassing territory from western Asia Minor to modern-day Afghanistan. As representatives of their family's prestige, they were highly influential in shaping the culture and legacy of this Empire that spanned East and West.
The contributions of this volume offer a systematic scrutiny of the representation of female Seleukids in visual and textual media. Avoiding Eurocentric perspectives in favour of embracing the diversity of the Empire, these scholars examine the interaction of Seleukid women with royal traditions ranging from Persia, Bactria, and Judaea to their Hellenistic contemporaries. The result is a landmark achievement in the study of ancient women.
About the author
Altay Coskun promovierte 1999 mit einer Arbeit uber den spatantiken Gelehrten und Staatsmann Ausonius an der Universitat Trier. Von 2000 bis 2002 war er Postdoctorate Fellow des DAAD an der Oxford University, wo er uberwiegend rechtshistorische Studien betrieb. Als wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter des Trierer SFB 600 "Fremdheit und Armut" widmete er sich von 2002 bis 2008 der romischen Aussen- und Burgerrechtspolitik. 2007 erfolgte die Habilitation in Alter Geschichte mit einer Arbeit zum antiken Galatien. 2009 tritt er zunachst ein Feodor Lynen-Stipendium der A.-v.-Humboldt-Stiftung an der University of Exeter an, bevor er dem Ruf auf eine Professur an das Department for Classical Studies der University of Waterloo/Ontario folgt. Alex McAuley in Lecturer in Hellenistic History at Cardiff University, Wales. In addition to his work on Greek federalism and political culture, he has also published on the cities of the Greek mainland as well as the ideology and political practice of the Hellenistic dynasties.
Report
"... this book is definitely worth reading as it leads the way towards a new understanding of female royalty in the Hellenistic period as well as in the classical world at large. [...] [It´s] an indispensable work of reference for those dealing with women in antiquity and wil be of great value to scholars and students alike." Chiara Grigolin Ancient West & East 18, 2019 20191201
