Artaxerxes II

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Artaxerxes II Artaxerxes II John Shannahan BAncHist (Hons) (Macquarie University) Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University. May, 2015. ii Contents List of Illustrations v Abstract ix Declaration xi Acknowledgements xiii Abbreviations and Conventions xv Introduction 1 CHAPTER 1 THE EARLY REIGN OF ARTAXERXES II The Birth of Artaxerxes to Cyrus’ Challenge 15 The Revolt of Cyrus 41 Observations on the Egyptians at Cunaxa 53 Royal Tactics at Cunaxa 61 The Repercussions of the Revolt 78 CHAPTER 2 399-390: COMBATING THE GREEKS Responses to Thibron, Dercylidas, and Agesilaus 87 The Role of Athens and the Persian Fleet 116 Evagoras the Opportunist and Carian Commanders 135 Artaxerxes’ First Invasion of Egypt: 392/1-390/89? 144 CHAPTER 3 389-380: THE KING’S PEACE AND CYPRUS The King’s Peace (387/6): Purpose and Influence 161 The Chronology of the 380s 172 CHAPTER 4 NUMISMATIC EXPRESSIONS OF SOLIDARITY Coinage in the Reign of Artaxerxes 197 The Baal/Figure in the Winged Disc Staters of Tiribazus 202 Catalogue 203 Date 212 Interpretation 214 Significance 223 Numismatic Iconography and Egyptian Independence 225 Four Comments on Achaemenid Motifs in 227 Philistian Coins iii The Figure in the Winged Disc in Samaria 232 The Pertinence of the Political Situation 241 CHAPTER 5 379-370: EGYPT Planning for the Second Invasion of Egypt 245 Pharnabazus’ Invasion of Egypt and Aftermath 259 CHAPTER 6 THE END OF THE REIGN Destabilisation in the West 267 The Nature of the Evidence 267 Summary of Current Analyses 268 Reconciliation 269 Court Intrigue and the End of Artaxerxes’ Reign 295 Conclusion: Artaxerxes the Diplomat 301 Bibliography 309 Dies 333 Issus 333 Mallus 335 Soli 337 Tarsus 338 Unknown 339 Figures 341 iv List of Illustrations MAP Map 1 Map of the Persian Empire xviii-xix Brosius, The Persians, 54-55 DIES Issus O1 Künker 174 (2010) 403 333 O2 Lanz 125 (2005) 426 333 O3 CNG 200 (2008) 63 333 O4 Künker 143 (2008) 233 333 R1 Babelon, Traité 2, pl. CVII.17 334 R2 Hess-Divo 325 (2013) 231 334 R3 CNG 200 (2008) 63 334 R4 SNG Levante-Cilicia 176 334 R5 BMC Cilicia p. 90, no. 3 334 R6 Peus 330 (1991) 155 334 R7 BM 1985,1114.3 334 Mallus O1 BM 1985,1114.2 335 O2 BM 1985,1114.1 335 O3 Hirsch 256 (2008) 320 335 O4 CNG Mail Bid 60 (2002) 866 335 R1 BM 1985,1114.2 336 R2 CNG Triton 7 (2004) 295 336 R3 Künker 216 (2012) 475 336 R4 Sotheby’s Nelson Bunker Hunt (1996) 566 336 R5 BM 1985,1114.1 336 R6 CNG Mail Bid 60 (2002) 866 336 Soli O1 BMC Cilicia p. 148, no. 26 337 R1 Hess-Divo 321 (2012) 181 337 R2 CNG 90 (2004) 5 337 R3 Baldwin's The New York Sale XXVII (2012) 594 337 Tarsus O1 CNG Mail Bid 66 (2004) 600 338 O2 BMC Cilicia p. 164, no. 12 338 R1 CNG Mail Bid 66 (2004) 600 338 R2 Baldwin's 34 (2003) 233 338 R3 BMC Cilicia p. 164, no. 12 338 Unknown O1 CNG 64 (2003) 169 339 O2 CH VIII.165, pl. XXIII.6 339 v R1 SNG Paris-Cilicia 417 339 R2 Elsen 111 (2011) 178 339 R3 Baldwin's 34 (2003) 384 339 R4 CH VIII.165, pl. XXIII.6 339 FIGURES Figure 1 Baal/Figure in the winged disc stater of Tiribazus 341 BM 1985,1114.1 Figure 2 Baal/Herakles stater 341 Peus 399 (2009) 184 Figure 3 Baal/Warrior head stater of Pharnabazus 342 BM 1979,0101.995 Figure 4 Baal/Lion attacking stag gold coin of Mazaeus 342 BM 1937,0606.18 Figure 5 Herakles/Zeus tetradrachm of Alexander 342 BM 1913,0518.2 Figure 6 Darius’ inscription at Behistun 343 WikiCommons Figure 7 The Darius Seal 343 BM 89132 || BM 1835,0630.1 Figure 8 Clay tablet with winged disc 343 University of Chicago, Oriental Institute, P 57464 Figure 9 Bes/Horned animal obol 344 Meshorer and Qedar, Samarian Coinage, no. 157 Figure 10 Baal/Lion and winged disc obol of Mazaeus 344 BM 2003,1107.3 Figure 11 Line drawing of King/Figure in the winged disc obol 344 Meshorer and Qedar, Samarian Coinage, no. 100 Figure 12 Assur as archer from relief of Ashurnasirpal II 345 BM 124551 || 1849,1222.12 Figure 13 Figure in the winged disc from Persepolis 345 Photograph: A/Prof. J. Alvarez-Mon Figure 14 Philistian Athena/City walls tetradrachm 346 Gitler and Tal, Coinage of Philistia, pl. LXIV, XV.1Ta Figure 15 Drawing of Achaemenid Immortal at Susa 346 Gitler and Tal, Coinage of Philistia, fig. 4.8 Figure 16 Sidonian City walls/King of Persia double shekel 347 ANS 1997.9.197 Figure 17 Philistian Oriental female head/City walls drachm 347 Gitler and Tal, Coinage of Philistia, pl. LXV, XV.2Da Figure 18 Obverse of Cilician Aphrodite/Satrap head stater 347 ANS 1944.100.54102 Figure 19 Reverse of Philistian Oriental head/Bes drachm 348 Gitler and Tal, Coinage of Philistia, pl. LXXVI, XVIII.5Db vi Figure 20 Reverse of Philistian Oriental head/Bes drachm 348 Gitler and Tal, Coinage of Philistia, pl. LXXVI, XVIII.7Da Figure 21 Drawing of seal impression 348 Kaptan, The Daskyleion Bullae, no. 3 Figure 22 Drawing of Achaemenid seal 348 Meshorer and Qedar, Samarian Coinage, 45 Figure 23 Drawing of Samarian obol 348 Meshorer and Qedar, Samarian Coinage, no. 7 Figure 24 Philistian Oriental head/Rider drachm 349 Gitler and Tal, Coinage of Philistia, pl. XCIV, XXV.2Da Figure 25 Drawing of Samarian King/Rider obol 349 Meshorer and Qedar, Samarian Coinage, no. 40 Figure 26 Drawing of Samarian lion/Persian king hemiobol 349 Meshorer and Qedar, Samarian Coinage, no. 101 Figure 27 King/Figure in the winged disc obol: Type 1 (b) 350 Ashmolean Museum, Robinson (1970), ex Bank Leu, ex Nablus Hoard Figure 28 Lion/Figure in the winged disc hemiobol: Type 1 (l) 350 Ashmolean Museum, Robinson (1970), ex Bank Leu, ex Nablus Hoard Figure 29 Drawing of Lion/Figure in the winged disc hemiobol: Type 1 (l) 351 Meshorer and Qedar, Samarian Coinage, no. 84 Figure 30 Figure in the winged disc/Rider obol: Type 2 (a) 351 CNG Mail Bid 82 (2009) 731 Figure 31 Drawing of Figure in the winged disc/Rider obol: Type 2 (a) 351 Meshorer and Qedar, Samarian Coinage, no. 124 Figure 32 Clothing plaque from Oxus Treasure 352 BM 123936 Figure 33 Achaemenid earring 352 MFAB 1971.256 vii viii Abstract This thesis codifies what is known of events under Artaxerxes II in order to expand our understanding of the man and his reign. A secondary purpose of the thesis is to assess the validity of the negative image of Artaxerxes II which has persisted in modern literature. In the author’s opinion, Artaxerxes II has been unfairly maligned. The thesis contends that the information available for Artaxerxes II’s reign has been underutilised in scholarship up to this point. Although the sources are fragmented and challenging, Artaxerxes II can be seen to have deftly manipulated the Greeks while furthering his own aims. Thus, this work presents a critical re-appraisal of the hostile Greek and Roman sources, combined with a new study of numismatic evidence. This involves re-evaluation of scholarship focused on the eastern Mediterranean during the fourth century, and the standard interpretations of interaction between the Greek world and the Achaemenid Empire under Artaxerxes II. The reassessment here works chronologically through his reign. This begins with an analysis of the information for Artaxerxes II’s early life and reign. The second chapter presents the evidence for the Persian response to the Spartan incursions of the 390s, including a thesis for a partnership with Athens to continue beyond the decade. It then presents a revised chronology of the 380s, and an account of the Egyptian campaign of the 370s and its diplomatic vanguard in the 375/4 King’s Peace rescript. The final chapter argues that the Satraps’ Revolt does not necessitate the rejection of evidence arbitrarily, as current interpretations do. The evidence can be read coherently. In the midst of these discussions, the thesis challenges the notion that Artaxerxes II was distant and afforded his satraps too much autonomy by highlighting the ways local administrators engaged with his imperial ideology through coin types. ix x Declaration I certify that this work has not been previously submitted for a degree, nor has it been submitted as part of requirements for a degree to any other university or institution other than Macquarie University. I also certify that the thesis is an original piece of research and was written by me. Any help and assistance that I have received in my research and the preparation of the thesis have been appropriately acknowledged. All sources have been acknowledged. John Shannahan Student Number: 41213351 xi xii Acknowledgements I would first like to thank my principal supervisor, A/Prof. Paul McKechnie, not only for bearing the brunt of the workload, but for suggesting a thesis on Artaxerxes II in the first place. The process of studying Achaemenid Persia has been challenging, but an immensely rewarding experience. My associate supervisors, A/Prof. Javier Alvarez-Mon and A/Prof. Ken Sheedy also deserve a great deal of thanks. Javier only signed on as associate supervisor when he arrived at Macquarie in 2014, but in his brief tenure proved extremely valuable for his perspectives on art. I owe Ken a great deal of gratitude for his detailed commentary and numismatic expertise. While my supervisors suffered through a plethora of drafts and painful prose, that burden also spread to others at Macquarie, and I am very grateful for their expertise and criticism: Dr.
Recommended publications
  • The Outbreak of the Rebellion of Cyrus the Younger Jeffrey Rop
    The Outbreak of the Rebellion of Cyrus the Younger Jeffrey Rop N THE ANABASIS, Xenophon asserts that the Persian prince Cyrus the Younger was falsely accused of plotting a coup I d’état against King Artaxerxes II shortly after his accession to the throne in 404 BCE. Spared from execution by the Queen Mother Parysatis, Cyrus returned to Lydia determined to seize the throne for himself. He secretly prepared his rebellion by securing access to thousands of Greek hoplites, winning over Persian officials and most of the Greek cities of Ionia, and continuing to send tribute and assurances of his loyalty to the unsuspecting King (1.1).1 In Xenophon’s timeline, the rebellion was not official until sometime between the muster of his army at Sardis in spring 401, which spurred his rival Tissaphernes to warn Artaxerxes (1.2.4–5), and his arrival several months later at Thapsacus on the Euphrates, where Cyrus first openly an- nounced his true intentions (1.4.11). Questioning the “strange blindness” of Artaxerxes in light of Cyrus’ seemingly obvious preparations for revolt, Pierre Briant proposed an alternative timeline placing the outbreak of the rebellion almost immediately after Cyrus’ return to Sardis in late 404 or early 403.2 In his reconstruction, the King allowed Cyrus 1 See also Ctesias FGrHist 688 F 16.59, Diod. 14.19, Plut. Artax. 3–4. 2 Pierre Briant, From Cyrus to Alexander (Winona Lake 2002) 617–620. J. K. Anderson, Xenophon (New York 1974) 80, expresses a similar skepticism. Briant concludes his discussion by stating that the rebellion officially (Briant does not define “official,” but I take it to mean when either the King or Cyrus declared it publicly) began in 401 with the muster of Cyrus’ army at Sardis, but it is nonetheless appropriate to characterize Briant’s position as dating the official outbreak of the revolt to 404/3.
    [Show full text]
  • The Satrap of Western Anatolia and the Greeks
    University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations 2017 The aS trap Of Western Anatolia And The Greeks Eyal Meyer University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations Part of the Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons Recommended Citation Meyer, Eyal, "The aS trap Of Western Anatolia And The Greeks" (2017). Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations. 2473. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/2473 This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/2473 For more information, please contact [email protected]. The aS trap Of Western Anatolia And The Greeks Abstract This dissertation explores the extent to which Persian policies in the western satrapies originated from the provincial capitals in the Anatolian periphery rather than from the royal centers in the Persian heartland in the fifth ec ntury BC. I begin by establishing that the Persian administrative apparatus was a product of a grand reform initiated by Darius I, which was aimed at producing a more uniform and centralized administrative infrastructure. In the following chapter I show that the provincial administration was embedded with chancellors, scribes, secretaries and military personnel of royal status and that the satrapies were periodically inspected by the Persian King or his loyal agents, which allowed to central authorities to monitory the provinces. In chapter three I delineate the extent of satrapal authority, responsibility and resources, and conclude that the satraps were supplied with considerable resources which enabled to fulfill the duties of their office. After the power dynamic between the Great Persian King and his provincial governors and the nature of the office of satrap has been analyzed, I begin a diachronic scrutiny of Greco-Persian interactions in the fifth century BC.
    [Show full text]
  • The Book of Cornelius Nepos on the Great Generals of Foreign Nations
    THE BOOK OF CORNELIUS NEPOS ON THE GREAT GENERALS OF FOREIGN NATIONS PREFACE I DOUBT not, Atticus, that many readers will look upon this kind of writing as trivial and unworthy of the parts played by great men, when they find that I have told who taught Epaminondas music or see it mentioned among his titles to fame that he was a graceful dancer and a skilled performer on the flute.^ But such critics will for the most part be men unfamiHar with Greek letters, who will think no conduct proper which does not conform to their own habits. If these men can be made to under- stand that not all peoples look upon the same acts as honourable or base, but that they judge them all in the hght of the usage of their forefathers, they will not be surprised that I, in giving an account of the merits of Greeks, have borne in mind the usage of that nation. For example, it was no disgrace to Cimon, an eminent citizen of Athens, to have his own sister to wife,^ inasmuch as his countrymen followed that same custom ; but according to our standards such a union is considered impious. In Crete it is thought praiseworthy for young men to have had the greatest possible number of love afFairs. F.v. N 369 Source: Jeffrey Henderson, Cornelius Nepos: On Great Generals. On Historians, LCL (London: Heinemann, 1929). PRAEFATIO, 4-8 At Lacedaemon no woman without a husband, how- ever distinguished she may be, refuses to go to a dinner-party as a hired entertainer.^ Almost every- where in Greece it was deemed a high honour to be proclaimed victor at Olympia ; even to appear on the stage and exhibit oneself to the people was never regarded as shameful by those nations.
    [Show full text]
  • The Influence of Achaemenid Persia on Fourth-Century and Early Hellenistic Greek Tyranny
    THE INFLUENCE OF ACHAEMENID PERSIA ON FOURTH-CENTURY AND EARLY HELLENISTIC GREEK TYRANNY Miles Lester-Pearson A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 2015 Full metadata for this item is available in St Andrews Research Repository at: http://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/11826 This item is protected by original copyright The influence of Achaemenid Persia on fourth-century and early Hellenistic Greek tyranny Miles Lester-Pearson This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of St Andrews Submitted February 2015 1. Candidate’s declarations: I, Miles Lester-Pearson, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 88,000 words in length, has been written by me, and that it is the record of work carried out by me, or principally by myself in collaboration with others as acknowledged, and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. I was admitted as a research student in September 2010 and as a candidate for the degree of PhD in September 2011; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between 2010 and 2015. Date: Signature of Candidate: 2. Supervisor’s declaration: I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of PhD in the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree.
    [Show full text]
  • Kings & Events of the Babylonian, Persian and Greek Dynasties
    KINGS AND EVENTS OF THE BABYLONIAN, PERSIAN, AND GREEK DYNASTIES 612 B.C. Nineveh falls to neo-Babylonian army (Nebuchadnezzar) 608 Pharaoh Necho II marched to Carchemesh to halt expansion of neo-Babylonian power Josiah, King of Judah, tries to stop him Death of Josiah and assumption of throne by his son, Jehoahaz Jehoiakim, another son of Josiah, replaced Jehoahaz on the authority of Pharaoh Necho II within 3 months Palestine and Syria under Egyptian rule Josiah’s reforms dissipate 605 Nabopolassar sends troops to fight remaining Assyrian army and the Egyptians at Carchemesh Nebuchadnezzar chased them all the way to the plains of Palestine Nebuchadnezzar got word of the death of his father (Nabopolassar) so he returned to Babylon to receive the crown On the way back he takes Daniel and other members of the royal family into exile 605 - 538 Babylon in control of Palestine, 597; 10,000 exiled to Babylon 586 Jerusalem and the temple destroyed and large deportation 582 Because Jewish guerilla fighters killed Gedaliah another last large deportation occurred SUCCESSORS OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR 562 - 560 Evil-Merodach released Jehoiakim (true Messianic line) from custody 560 - 556 Neriglissar 556 Labaski-Marduk reigned 556 - 539 Nabonidus: Spent most of the time building a temple to the mood god, Sin. This earned enmity of the priests of Marduk. Spent the rest of his time trying to put down revolts and stabilize the kingdom. He moved to Tema and left the affairs of state to his son, Belshazzar Belshazzar: Spent most of his time trying to restore order. Babylonia’s great threat was Media.
    [Show full text]
  • Marathon 2,500 Years Edited by Christopher Carey & Michael Edwards
    MARATHON 2,500 YEARS EDITED BY CHRISTOPHER CAREY & MICHAEL EDWARDS INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL STUDIES SCHOOL OF ADVANCED STUDY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON MARATHON – 2,500 YEARS BULLETIN OF THE INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL STUDIES SUPPLEMENT 124 DIRECTOR & GENERAL EDITOR: JOHN NORTH DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS: RICHARD SIMPSON MARATHON – 2,500 YEARS PROCEEDINGS OF THE MARATHON CONFERENCE 2010 EDITED BY CHRISTOPHER CAREY & MICHAEL EDWARDS INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL STUDIES SCHOOL OF ADVANCED STUDY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON 2013 The cover image shows Persian warriors at Ishtar Gate, from before the fourth century BC. Pergamon Museum/Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin. Photo Mohammed Shamma (2003). Used under CC‐BY terms. All rights reserved. This PDF edition published in 2019 First published in print in 2013 This book is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0) license. More information regarding CC licenses is available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Available to download free at http://www.humanities-digital-library.org ISBN: 978-1-905670-81-9 (2019 PDF edition) DOI: 10.14296/1019.9781905670819 ISBN: 978-1-905670-52-9 (2013 paperback edition) ©2013 Institute of Classical Studies, University of London The right of contributors to be identified as the authors of the work published here has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Designed and typeset at the Institute of Classical Studies TABLE OF CONTENTS Introductory note 1 P. J. Rhodes The battle of Marathon and modern scholarship 3 Christopher Pelling Herodotus’ Marathon 23 Peter Krentz Marathon and the development of the exclusive hoplite phalanx 35 Andrej Petrovic The battle of Marathon in pre-Herodotean sources: on Marathon verse-inscriptions (IG I3 503/504; Seg Lvi 430) 45 V.
    [Show full text]
  • Greece • Crete • Turkey May 28 - June 22, 2021
    GREECE • CRETE • TURKEY MAY 28 - JUNE 22, 2021 Tour Hosts: Dr. Scott Moore Dr. Jason Whitlark organized by GREECE - CRETE - TURKEY / May 28 - June 22, 2021 May 31 Mon ATHENS - CORINTH CANAL - CORINTH – ACROCORINTH - NAFPLION At 8:30a.m. depart from Athens and drive along the coastal highway of Saronic Gulf. Arrive at the Corinth Canal for a brief stop and then continue on to the Acropolis of Corinth. Acro-corinth is the citadel of Corinth. It is situated to the southwest of the ancient city and rises to an elevation of 1883 ft. [574 m.]. Today it is surrounded by walls that are about 1.85 mi. [3 km.] long. The foundations of the fortifications are ancient—going back to the Hellenistic Period. The current walls were built and rebuilt by the Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, and Ottoman Turks. Climb up and visit the fortress. Then proceed to the Ancient city of Corinth. It was to this megalopolis where the apostle Paul came and worked, established a thriving church, subsequently sending two of his epistles now part of the New Testament. Here, we see all of the sites associated with his ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odeon, the Bema and Gallio’s Seat. The small local archaeological museum here is an absolute must! In Romans 16:23 Paul mentions his friend Erastus and • • we will see an inscription to him at the site. In the afternoon we will drive to GREECE CRETE TURKEY Nafplion for check-in at hotel followed by dinner and overnight. (B,D) MAY 28 - JUNE 22, 2021 June 1 Tue EPIDAURAUS - MYCENAE - NAFPLION Morning visit to Mycenae where we see the remains of the prehistoric citadel Parthenon, fortified with the Cyclopean Walls, the Lionesses’ Gate, the remains of the Athens Mycenaean Palace and the Tomb of King Agamemnon in which we will actually enter.
    [Show full text]
  • Ancient Cyprus: Island of Conflict?
    Ancient Cyprus: Island of Conflict? Maria Natasha Ioannou Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy Discipline of Classics School of Humanities The University of Adelaide December 2012 Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................ III Declaration........................................................................................................... IV Acknowledgements ............................................................................................. V Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 1. Overview .......................................................................................................... 1 2. Background and Context ................................................................................. 1 3. Thesis Aims ..................................................................................................... 3 4. Thesis Summary .............................................................................................. 4 5. Literature Review ............................................................................................. 6 Chapter 1: Cyprus Considered .......................................................................... 14 1.1 Cyprus’ Internal Dynamics ........................................................................... 15 1.2 Cyprus, Phoenicia and Egypt .....................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Alexander and the 'Defeat' of the Sogdianian Revolt
    Alexander the Great and the “Defeat” of the Sogdianian Revolt* Salvatore Vacante “A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home full numbers” (W. Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act I, Scene I) (i) At the beginning of 329,1 the flight of the satrap Bessus towards the northeastern borders of the former Persian Empire gave Alexander the Great the timely opportunity for the invasion of Sogdiana.2 This ancient region was located between the Oxus (present Amu-Darya) and Iaxartes (Syr-Darya) Rivers, where we now find the modern Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, bordering on the South with ancient Bactria (present Afghanistan). According to literary sources, the Macedonians rapidly occupied this large area with its “capital” Maracanda3 and also built, along the Iaxartes, the famous Alexandria Eschate, “the Farthermost.”4 However, during the same year, the Sogdianian nobles Spitamenes and Catanes5 were able to create a coalition of Sogdianians, Bactrians and Scythians, who created serious problems for Macedonian power in the region, forcing Alexander to return for the winter of 329/8 to the largest city of Bactria, Zariaspa-Bactra.6 The chiefs of the revolt were those who had *An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Conflict Archaeology Postgraduate Conference organized by the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology of the University of Glasgow on October 7th – 9th 2011. 1 Except where differently indicated, all the dates are BCE. 2 Arr. 3.28.10-29.6. 3 Arr. 3.30.6; Curt. 7.6.10: modern Samarkand. According to Curtius, the city was surrounded by long walls (70 stades, i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • Christopher Ainslie Selected Reviews
    Christopher Ainslie Selected Reviews Ligeti Le Grand Macabre (Prince Go-Go), Semperoper Dresden (November 2019) Counter Christopher Ainslie [w]as a wonderfully infantile Prince Go-Go ... [The soloists] master their games as effortlessly as if they were singing Schubertlieder. - Christian Schmidt, Freiepresse A multitude of excellent voices [including] countertenor Christopher Ainslie as Prince with pure, blossoming top notes and exaggerated drama they are all brilliant performances. - Michael Ernst, neue musikzeitung Christopher Ainslie gave a honeyed Prince Go-Go. - Xavier Cester, Ópera Actual Ainslie with his wonderfully extravagant voice. - Thomas Thielemann, IOCO Prince Go-Go, is agile and vocally impressive, performed by Christopher Ainslie. - Björn Kühnicke, Musik in Dresden Christopher Ainslie lends the ruler his extraordinary countertenor voice. - Jens Daniel Schubert, Sächsische Zeitung Christopher Ainslie[ s] rounded countertenor, which carried well into that glorious acoustic. - operatraveller.com Handel Rodelinda (Unulfo), Teatro Municipal, Santiago, Chile (August 2019) Christopher Ainslie was a measured Unulfo. Claudia Ramirez, Culto Latercera Handel Belshazzar (Cyrus), The Grange Festival (June 2019) Christopher Ainslie makes something effective out of the Persian conqueror Cyrus. George Hall, The Stage Counter-tenors James Laing and Christopher Ainslie make their mark as Daniel and Cyrus. Rupert Christiansen, The Telegraph Ch enor is beautiful he presented the conflicted hero with style. Melanie Eskenazi, MusicOMH Christopher Ainslie was impressive as the Persian leader Cyrus this was a subtle exploration of heroism, plumbing the ars as well as expounding his triumphs. Ashutosh Khandekar, Opera Now Christopher Ainslie as a benevolent Cyrus dazzles more for his bravura clinging onto the side of the ziggurat. David Truslove, OperaToday Among the puritanical Persians outside (then inside) the c ot a straightforwardly heroic countertenor but a more subdued, lighter and more anguished reading of the part.
    [Show full text]
  • Dascylium: an Overview of the Achaemenid Satrapal City Author(S)
    <Article>Dascylium: An Overview of the Achaemenid Title Satrapal City Author(s) ABE, Takuji Citation 西洋古代史研究 (2012), 12: 1-17 Issue Date 2012-12-01 URL http://hdl.handle.net/2433/166619 Right Type Departmental Bulletin Paper Textversion publisher Kyoto University The Kyoto Journal of AncientDascylium: History ,An Vol. Overview12(2012) of the Achaemenid Satrapal City 1 《Article》 Dascylium: An Overview of the Achaemenid Satrapal City Takuji ABE 【Summary】 Dascylium was an Achaemenid administrative centre, and a satrapal seat of north-western Anatolia. This paper investigates this satrapal capital’s status, particularly its cultural association with the Persian heartland, and in addition serves to compare Dascylium to similar studies of Lydia, and its capital of Sardis. Archaeological evidence reveals that Dascylium’s governors did not inherit monumental structures which they could adopt for their use as public buildings, despite the fact that history of the city dates back to the pre-Persian period. Instead, a new landscape evolved that we assume is the ideal satrapal centre, which can now be studied as a result of the excavations at Dascylium. Among them is included the most intriguing find; an assemblage of bullae – clay lumps bearing seal impressions – recovered from the site of the acropolis. A great number of king’s legends shown on the bullae likely point to an intimate relationship between Persian sovereigns and subjects in the capital of their westernmost satrapy. The motifs of impressions also help reconstruct our image of cultural life as it was experienced by the Persian immigrants; for instance, the worship of Ahura Mazda, and hunting in paradeisoi.
    [Show full text]
  • Mercenaries, Poleis, and Empires in the Fourth Century Bce
    The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School College of the Liberal Arts ALL THE KING’S GREEKS: MERCENARIES, POLEIS, AND EMPIRES IN THE FOURTH CENTURY BCE A Dissertation in History and Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies by Jeffrey Rop © 2013 Jeffrey Rop Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2013 ii The dissertation of Jeffrey Rop was reviewed and approved* by the following: Mark Munn Professor of Ancient Greek History and Greek Archaeology, Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies Dissertation Advisor Chair of Committee Gary N. Knoppers Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Religious Studies, and Jewish Studies Garrett G. Fagan Professor of Ancient History and Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies Kenneth Hirth Professor of Anthropology Carol Reardon George Winfree Professor of American History David Atwill Associate Professor of History and Asian Studies Graduate Program Director for the Department of History *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School iii ABSTRACT This dissertation examines Greek mercenary service in the Near East from 401- 330 BCE. Traditionally, the employment of Greek soldiers by the Persian Achaemenid Empire and the Kingdom of Egypt during this period has been understood to indicate the military weakness of these polities and the superiority of Greek hoplites over their Near Eastern counterparts. I demonstrate that the purported superiority of Greek heavy infantry has been exaggerated by Greco-Roman authors. Furthermore, close examination of Greek mercenary service reveals that the recruitment of Greek soldiers was not the purpose of Achaemenid foreign policy in Greece and the Aegean, but was instead an indication of the political subordination of prominent Greek citizens and poleis, conducted through the social institution of xenia, to Persian satraps and kings.
    [Show full text]