Beyond Alexandria : literature and empire in the Seleucid world
This thesis aims to provide a better understanding of Seleucid literature, covering the period from Seleucus I to Antiochus III. Despite the historical importance of the Seleucid Empire during this period, little attention has been devoted to its literature. The works of authors affiliated with the Seleucid court have tended to be overshadowed by works coming out of Alexandria, emerging from the court of the Ptolemies, the main rivals of the Seleucids. This thesis makes two key points, both of which challenge the idea that âAlexandrianâ literature is coterminous with Hellenistic literature as a whole. First, the thesis sets out to demonstrate that a distinctly Seleucid strand of writing emerged from the Seleucid court, characterised by shared perspectives and thematic concerns. Second, the thesis argues that Seleucid literature was significant on the wider Hellenistic stage. Specifically, it aims to show that the works of Seleucid authors influenced and provided counterpoints to writers based in Alexandria, including key figures such as Eratosthenes and Callimachus. For this reason, the literature of the Seleucids is not only interesting in its own right; it also provides an important entry point for furthering
Visscher, Margrete Sija
Beyond Alexandria : literature and empire in the Seleucid world. This thesis aims to provide a better understanding of Seleucid literature, covering the period from Seleucus I to Antiochus III. Despite the historical importance of the Seleucid Empire during this period, little attention has been devoted to its literature. The works of authors affiliated with the Seleucid court have tended to be overshadowed by works coming out of Alexandria, emerging from the court of the Ptolemies, the main rivals of the Seleucids. This thesis makes two key points, both of which challenge the idea that âAlexandrianâ literature is coterminous with Hellenistic literature as a whole. First, the thesis sets out to demonstrate that a distinctly Seleucid strand of writing emerged from the Seleucid court, characterised by shared perspectives and thematic concerns. Second, the thesis argues that Seleucid literature was significant on the wider Hellenistic stage. Specifically, it aims to show that the works of Seleucid authors influenced and provided counterpoints to writers based in Alexandria, including key figures such as Eratosthenes and Callimachus. For this reason, the literature of the Seleucids is not only interesting in its own right; it also provides an important entry point for furthering
beyond alexandria literature empire seleucid world aim_provide good seleucid literature cover_period iii despite historical importance seleucid empire period little_attention devote literature work author affiliate seleucid court tend overshadow work come alexandria emerge court main rival seleucids make two_key point challenge_idea alexandrian literature coterminous hellenistic literature whole first_set distinctly seleucid strand write emerge seleucid court characterise share perspective thematic concern second_argue seleucid literature significant wider hellenistic stage specifically aim_show work seleucid author influence provided writer base alexandria include key_figure reason literature seleucids interesting right also_provide important entry_point