Image of the Basileus : the common character of royal self-presentation in the early Hellenistic world (323-276 BC)
This thesis argues for a common character of royal self-presentation in the early Hellenistic world, defined in this thesis as the period between the death of Alexander in 323 BC and the accession of Antigonos Gonatas in 276. In contrast to current models of interpretation which analyse it on a predominantly regional or biographical basis, this thesis supports the validity of approaching Hellenistic kingship as a broader phenomenon. Royal self-presentation is defined here as imagery developed by the kings, ideology articulated by them, and symbolic deeds enacted by them. This thesis engages a distinction between local and international perspectives and a wide interdisciplinary view of the surviving evidence in order to demonstrate the common character of early Hellenistic royal self-presentation. This common character is in turn unified by a dominant Greco-Macedonian emphasis: accordingly, it is termed âthe image of the basileusâ in this thesis. This âimage of the basileusâ is a composite construction based on six themes of royal self-presentation, each of which is analysed and discussed in a separate chapter; their total character is adduced fully in the final conclusion to this thesis. Chapter 1
Holton, John Russell
royal self-presentation ; Hellenistic kingship ; imagery ; diadem ; city foundation ; divine favour
Image of the Basileus : the common character of royal self-presentation in the early Hellenistic world (323-276 BC). This thesis argues for a common character of royal self-presentation in the early Hellenistic world, defined in this thesis as the period between the death of Alexander in 323 BC and the accession of Antigonos Gonatas in 276. In contrast to current models of interpretation which analyse it on a predominantly regional or biographical basis, this thesis supports the validity of approaching Hellenistic kingship as a broader phenomenon. Royal self-presentation is defined here as imagery developed by the kings, ideology articulated by them, and symbolic deeds enacted by them. This thesis engages a distinction between local and international perspectives and a wide interdisciplinary view of the surviving evidence in order to demonstrate the common character of early Hellenistic royal self-presentation. This common character is in turn unified by a dominant Greco-Macedonian emphasis: accordingly, it is termed âthe image of the basileusâ in this thesis. This âimage of the basileusâ is a composite construction based on six themes of royal self-presentation, each of which is analysed and discussed in a separate chapter; their total character is adduced fully in the final conclusion to this thesis. Chapter 1
image common character royal self presentation early hellenistic_world argues common character royal self presentation early_hellenistic world defined period death alexander accession contrast current_model interpretation analyse predominantly regional biographical basis support validity approach hellenistic kingship broader phenomenon royal self presentation define imagery developed king ideology articulate symbolic deed enact them engages distinction local international perspective wide interdisciplinary view survive_evidence order common character early_hellenistic royal self presentation common character turn unified dominant greco macedonian emphasis accordingly term image thesis image composite construction base theme royal self presentation analyse discussed separate total character adduce fully final conclusion thesis