The Hellenistic Royal Court.
Court Culture, Ceremonial and Ideology in Greece, Egypt and the Near East, 336-30 BCE
Het Hellenistische koningshof
hofcultuur, ceremonieel en ideologie in
griekenland, egypte en het nabije oosten, 336-30 v.Chr.
(met een samenvatting in het Nederlands)
Proefschrift
ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan de Universiteit Utrecht op gezag van de rector magnificus, prof.dr. W.H. Gispen, ingevolge het besluit van het college voor promoties in het openbaar te verdedigen op donderdag 29 maart 2007 des middags te 12.45 uur
door
Rudolf Strootman
geboren te Rotterdam, 3 september 1968
Promotor: Prof. J.H. Blok
Contents
Preface iv Abbreviations v The Hellenistic dynasties vii
INTRODUCTION 1
1 COURT, KINGSHIP AND IDEOLOGY 7
1.1 Studying the royal court 7
1.2 The Hellenistic royal court 13
1.3 Hellenism and imperialism 18
1.4 The heroic ethos 31
2 PALACES 54
2.1 Hellenistic palaces: where and why 54
2.2 A closer look 81
2.3 The royal precinct 89
3 COURT SOCIETY 92
3.1 The origin of Hellenistic court society 92
3.2 The royal household 101
3.3 The friends of the king 119
3.4 Hierarchy 139
3.5 Factions and favourites 167
3.6 The royal pages 181
I
4 CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC PATRONAGE 189
4.1 Introduction: The birdcage of the Muses 189
4.2 Prestige and competition 202
4.3 Bonds between patron and client 216
4.4 Royal studies: new images of the world 228
4.5 The poetics of power: the ideology of Ptolemaic panegyric 236
4.6 Conclusion: The ivory tower 246
5 RITUAL AND CEREMONIAL 251
5.1 Introduction: The theatre of kingship 251
5.2 Accession rites 262
5.3 The ceremonial entry 289
5.4 Royal processions 305
5.5 Court ceremonial 325
5.6 Conclusion: The symbolism of power 345
6 SYNTHESIS: THE GOLDEN AGE 348
SUMMARY 357
APPENDIX: REGALIA 360
1. The costume of the king 360
2. The diadem 366
3. The royal sceptre 372
4. Purple 374
Bibliography 385 Index 410 Nederlandse Samenvatting 420 Curriculum Vitae 422
II
To my parents
III
Preface
Every time, in going on, there is something of the first venture: a question of faith. André Brink, An Instant in the Wind (1976)
Much gratitude is due to many people. It would take lengthy footnotes to do them all justice. Foot- notes, however, have no place in a preface. But let me start with a nice quote I recently came across. In speaking of the Hellenistic kingdoms in the third century BCE, Sheila Ager remarked that ‘we may be in danger of seeking too much of a coherent pattern in a century where chaos theory might be a better methodology’. 1 Though certainly true – the Hellenistic Age really is the most fascinating period in world history – I merely shrugged: my mentor, Henk Versnel, always taught me not to despair in the face of seemingly contradictory evidence, but to accept ambiguity and disorder as part of historical reality. 2 He encouraged me to write this book. My other mentor, Josine Blok, encouraged me to finish it. During the final stages of the road to my doctoral degree, I could not have done without the help and perseverance of Godfried Marijnissen, suggenh;~ kai; prw`to~ fivlo~ , and Michel Buijs, colleague and friend. Here are some other people I am happy to thank for their support. Lily Knibbeler, Rens Tacoma and Carolyn de Greeff, for a challenging environment during my Leiden years, when we were Skēnē , the pavilion of creativity set up in the backyard of Oikos . Helga Ruebsamen did her best to teach me how to write – though not in English – and convinced me that writing a doctoral disser- tation is less difficult than writing a novel. My exceptional colleagues in Utrecht, in particular Floris van den Eijnde, Sara Wijma, Lina van ’t Wout and Diana Kretschmann. They volunteered to read and correct the manuscript (all remaining typos and inconsistencies are mine). The Philologisch Studiefonds for giving me the opportunity to travel in the Middle East. Frans and Inge Strootman, for making it all possible. I dedicate this book to them. In the opening section of 1 Maccabees it is stated that the world had much to suffer from the Successors of Alexander. My family knows all about it. Elise Wiggers, David and Leonoor Strootman, for giving me a reason.
1 S.L. Ager, ‘An uneasy balance: From the death of Seleukos to the Battle of Raphia’, in: A. Erskine ed., A Companion to the Hellenistic World (Oxford 2003) 35-50, at 35. 2 See H.S. Versnel, ‘Inconsistency’, in: id., Inconsistencies in Greek and Roman Religion I: Ter Unus. Isis, Dionysos, Hermes. Three Studies in Henotheism (Leiden 1990) 1-37.
IV
Abbreviations
A&A Antike und Abendland ABC A.K. Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles (Locust Valley 1975). AchHist H.W.A.M. Sancisi-Weerdenburg et al . eds., Achaemenid History (13 vols.; Leiden 1987-2003). AKG Archiv fürKulturgeschichte AW Ancient World Berve H. Berve, Das Alexanderreich auf prosopografischer Grundlage (2 vols.; Munich 1926). AncSoc Ancient Society ANET J.B. Pritchard ed., Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament (3rd edn; Princeton, NJ, 1969) AJA American Journal of Archaeology AJPh American Journal of Philology ArchPF Archiv für Papyrusforschung Austin M.M. Austin, The Hellenistic World From Alexander to the Roman Conquest. A Selection of Ancient Sources in Translation (Cambridge 1981). BCHP R.J. van der Spek and I.L. Finkel, Babylonian Chronicles of the Hellenistic Period (forthcoming; preliminary online at www.livius.org). BICS Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies , London BM British Museum CAF T. Kock, Comicorum Atticorum Fragmenta (1880-1888). CAH Cambridge Ancient History CE Chronique d’Égypte CHI Cambridge History of Iran CJ Classical Journal C Phil. Classical Philology CQ Classical Quarterly DHA Dialogues d’histoire ancienne
V
FGrH F. Jacoby, Fragmente der griechischen Historiker (1923-) FHG C. Müller, Fragmenta Historicum Graecorum (1841-1870) Fraser P.M. Fraser, Ptolemaic Alexandria (3 vols; Oxford 1972). G&R Greece and Rome Glassner J.-J. Glassner, Chroniques mésopotamiens (Paris 1993). IG Inscriptiones Graecae (1873-) JDAI Jahrbücher des deutschen archäologischen Instituts JHS Journal of Hellenic Studies JNES Journal of Near Eastern Studies JRS Journal of Roman Studies MDAI(I) Mitteilungen des deutschen archäologischen Instituts, Istanbulische Abteilung OCD Oxford Classical Dictionary (3rd edn; ed. S. Hornblower & A. Spawforth) OGIS Orientis Graeci Inscriptiones Selectae RBL Review of Biblical Literature (online at www.bookreviews.org) RE A. Pauly, G. Wissowa, W. Kroll eds ., Real-Encyclopädie der klassischen Altertumswissenschaft (1893-). REG Revue des Études Grecque Riv.Fil. Rivista di Filologia e di Istruzione Classica Sachs & Hunger A.J. Sachs and H. Hunger, Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia. (3 vols; Vienna, 1988, 1989, 1996). RPh Revue Philologique SEG Supplementum Epigraphicum Graecum (1923-) SNG Sylloge Numorum Graecorum TAPhA Transactions of the American Philological Association TvG Tijdschrift voor Geschiedenis Walbank F.W. Walbank, A Historical Commentary on Polybius (3 vols; Oxford 1957, 1967, 1979). YCS Yale Classical Studies
VI
The Hellenistic Dynasties
Kings of Macedonia
Argead Dynasty Antipatrid Dynasty 413-399 Archelaos 305-297 Kassandros 399-397 Orestes 297 Philippos IV 397-394 Aëropos II 297-294 Alexandros V 394-393 Amyntas II 297-294 Antipatros I 394-393 Pausanias (rival king) 393-385 Amyntas III Civil Wars 385-383 Argaios II 294-287 Demetrios I Poliorketes 383-370 Amyntas III (restored) 287-285 Pyrrhos of Epeiros 370-368 Alexandros II 287-281 Lysimachos 368-365 Ptolemaios of Aloros (regent) 281-279 Ptolemaios Keraunos 365-359 Perdikkas III 279 Meleagros 359-336 Philippos II 279 Antipatros II ‘Etesias’ 336-323 Alexandros III the Great 279-277 Sosthenes ( stratēgos only) 323-317 Philippos III Arrhidaios 277-274 Antigonos II Gonatas 323-309 Alexandros IV 274-272 Pyrrhos of Epeiros, again 272-239 Antigonos II (restored)
Antigonid Dynasty Attalid Dynasty
306-301 Antigonos I Monophthalmos 283-263 Philetairos (dynast only) 306-287 Demetrios I Poliorketes 263-241 Eumenes I (dynast only) 287-239 Antigonos II Gonatas 241-197 Attalos I Soter (king in 238/7) 239-229 Demetrios II 197-159 Eumenes II Philadelphos 229-221 Antigonos III Doson 159-138 Attalos II Philadelphos 221-179 Philippos V 138-133 Attalos III Philometor 179-168 Perseus
VII
Seleukid Dynasty
312-281 Seleukos I Nikator 128-122 Alexandros II Zabinas 281-261 Antiochos I Soter 125-120 Kleopatra I Thea 261-246 Antiochos II Theos 125 Seleukos V 246-226 Seleukos II Kallinikos 125-96 Antiochos VIII Grypos 226-223 Seleukos III Soter 113-95 Antiochos IX Kyzenikos 223-187 Antiochos III the Great 96-95 Seleukos VI Epiphanes 187-175 Seleukos IV Philopator 95-88 Demetrios III Eukairos 175-164 Antiochos IV Epiphanes 95-88 Antiochos X Eusebes 164-162 Antiochos V Eupator 95 Antiochos XI Epiphanes 162-150 Demetrios I Soter 95-83 Philippos I Epiphanes 150-145 Alexandros I Balas 86-85 Antiochos XII Dionysos 145-142 Antiochos VI Epiphanes 83-69 Kleopatra II Selene (regent) 145-139 Demetrios II Nikator 83-58 Seleukos VII Philometor? 139-129 Antiochos VII Sidetes 69-64 Antiochos XIII Asiatikos 129-125 Demetrios II (restored) 66-63 Philippos II Philorhomaios
Ptolemaic Dynasty
323-282 Ptolemaios I Soter (king 305) 88-80 Ptolemaios IX (restored) 282-246 Ptolemaios II Philadelphos 80 Kleopatra Berenike 246-222 Ptolemaios III Euergetes 80 Ptolemaios XI Alexandros 222-204 Ptolemaios IV Philopator 80-51 Ptolemaios XII Neos Dionysos 204-180 Ptolemaios V Epiphanes 58-55 Berenike IV 180-145 Ptolemaios VI Philometor 51-47 Ptolemaios XIII Philopator 170-163 Ptolemaios VIII Euergetes 51-30 Kleopatra VII Philopator 145-144 Ptolemaios VII Philopator 48-47 Arsinoë 145-116 Ptolemaios VIII (restored) 47-44 Ptolemaios XIV Philopator 116-101 Kleopatra III Euergetes 36-30 Ptolemaios XV Caesar 116-107 Ptolemaios IX Philometor 107-88 Ptolemaios X Alexandros
VIII
IX
Introduction
The continuity of Hellenistic kingship and court culture
Court culture and Hellenistic kingship
The scope and structure of the book
I
Court, kingship and ideology
1.1 Studying the royal court
Four functions of the royal court
1.2 The Hellenistic royal court oiJ peri; th;n aujlhvn
tw`n Acaiw`n e[qnou~ kai;; th`~ Makedovnwn oikiva~ oiJ peri; th;n A[ttalon
oiJ filoi; tou basilevw~ peri; th;n aujlh;n oiJ peri; th;n aujlhvn oiJ ta; kata; th`n Ai[gupton ceirivzonte~ oiJ epi; tw`n evzw pragmavtwn diatavgmenoi epi; th`~ qerapeiva~ aujla;~ qerapeuvein
Historical development
The state of the question
1.3 Hellenism and imperialism
Hellenism and imperialism
Universal Empire
Hellenistic kingship: ideology and reality
1.4 The Heroic Ethos
War and legitimacy
eijrhvnh ejleuqhriva
Favti~ nikhfovro~
kalov~
ajndreiva ajndragaqiva ajndreiva ajreth; ajndreiva Ajndragaqiva ajndragaqiva ajndragaqiva ajndreiva ajndragaqiva ajristeiva ajristeiva ajndragaqiva
The theatre of battle
logcofovroi katafravktoi) pezetaivroi amfippotoxovta~
Theatrical heroism
deino;~ ojfqh`vai to; provswpon prosidei`n deino;~ ejfavnh toi`~ polemivoi~
II
Palaces
2.1 Hellenistic palaces: where and why
Halikarnassos
Antigonid palaces oijkisthv~
Seleukid palaces
logisthvrion to; stratiwtiko;n iJppotrovfion
a[sulon tevmeno~
Ptolemaic palaces
Alexandrevwn cwvra
ajvllhn povlin
to;n crhmatistiko;n pulw`na
sebasthv agora;
2.2 A closer look The Palace at Pergamon
Inside Hellenistic basileia ı
Decoration
nao;~ qoloeidhv~
2.3 The royal precinct
povli~ kai; basivleia
III
Court Society
3.1 The origin of Hellenistic court society
Philippos II and the Macedonian nobility
The absolutism of Alexander the Great
penevsth~
3.2 The royal household
oijko~
The king oijko~ gevno~ suggeneiva agcisteiva gevno~ oijko~ gevno~ gevno~ oijko~
The king as a Macedonian basileu;~ Makedovnwn
basileiva Katavgein ejpi; th;n basileivan
Dynastic continuity
Inheritance and succession
The crown prince
DIADOCOS THS BASILEIAS
The queen
koitw`no~ th`~ basilivssh~ ajrcivatro~ th`~ basilivssh~
Friends or officials?
fivlo~ fivlo~ tou` basilevw~ qerapeiva oiJ peri; th;n aujlh;n Aujlikoi; oiJ peri; thn; A[ttalon peri; th;n aujlh;n
peri; th;n aujlh;n, peri; th;n aujlh;n iJ peri;; th;n aujlhn oiJ ta; kata; th`n Aivgupton ceirivzonte~ oiJ epi; tw`n evzw pragmavtwn diatavgmenoi dunavmei~
peri; th;n aujlhvn eJgemovnai sustrateuomevnwn
Social and ethnic background eJtai`ro~ fivlo~
fivlo~ eJtai`ro~
fivlo~ fivlo~ eJtai`ro~ fivlo~
Non-Greeks at the Hellenistic courts
Xenia
Filoxeniva
Philia
filiva
suggeneiva ajncisteiva eJtaireiva
Proximity to the throne
oJ th~ Ajgaqokleiva~
Gift exchange
Court titles
prw`toi fivloi timwvmenoi fivloi prw`toi kai; prwtimwvmenoi fivloi suggenh;~ tou` basilevw~ suvntrofo~ tou` basilevw~
toi`~ ejn uJperocai`~ ou\si tw`n peri; th;n aujlhvn timiwvtatoi fivloi Prw`toi fivloi Suggenhv~ suvntrofo~
oJ ejpi; tw`n pragmavtwn ejpi; th;~ qerapeiva~ ejdeatro~ ajrcedeaotro~ ejp;i tou` koitw`no~ hJgemon twn uJpaspistwn ejpi; th;~ qerapeiva~
ejpi; tou` grammateu~ grammateu~ ejpistolografo~ arcigrammateu~ tamiva~ ejpi; tou` nomivsmato~ qhsaurofuvlax gazofuvlax gazofuvlax trofeu~ ajrcikunhgo~ ajrciatro~ ijatro~
basilikoi~ trapezitai~
The royal council
ejpi; tou` nautikou ejpi; tou` peltastwn
Friends or flatterers?
Dress codes
`
−
Antiochos the Great versus the philoi
peri; th;n aujlhvn
The role of the favourite
ejpi; th`~ qerapeiva~ ejpi; twn kata; Pelopovnnhshn ejpi; tw`n peltastw`n ejpi; tou` grammateivou
ejpi th;~ qerapeiva~.
Pevvrsh~ th`~ ejpigovnh`~
basilikoi; (de;) pai`de~ paivde~ swmatofulakiai suvntrofoi paidivskai
Origins neanivsko~ te`~ aujle`~
Organisation and duties
pai`~ eJtai`ro~
Education
trofeu;~ Antiovcou Filopavtro~ tw`n prw`twn fivlwn basilevw~ Antiovcou kai; ajrcivatro~ kai; ejpi; tou` koitw`no~ th`~ basilivsshs
Conclusion
basilevw~ ajdelfou`~ ajdelfido~
IV
Cultural and Scientific Patronage
Mousevwn ejn talavrw/
Hellenistic court poetry: l’art pour l’art?
Historical evolution of Hellenistic court patronage
The mouseion of Alexandria
Usefulness
Prestige
qauvmata
Competition
oJ a[[[[[[[[[qeo~ oujnomivzein ajnairei`n a[qeo~
Accumulation
Hellenism
Theokritos and Hieron
basileuv~
Reciprocity
Competition and innovation
Philosophy Peri; basileiva~
Historiography, geography and ethnography
Favti~ nikhfovro~
Apotelesmatikav
e[paino~ ejgkwvmion panhgurikov~ ejpideiktikov~
Jajpo; mevlito~ i]on JHra~
From Zeus to Ptolemaios
dovmo~ ejn Dio;~ oi[kwi
Peace and prosperity
ajmfotevrh mesovgeia
eJspevrou ejscatovwnto~
World Empire and Golden Age
Hellenism and empire
V
Ritual and Ceremonial
Persikon de karta o strato~ dwron
sunbouloi ı qerapeivan th;n basilikh;n qerapeiva
Ritual and Ceremonial
The significance of royal ritual
Monarchy on stage
.
bh`ma
From death to burial: ritual mourning and anomy
The death of Ptolemaios V Epiphanes
aJnadeivxi~ tw`n basilevwn) Royal burials
The inauguration ritual
tw`n provreron basilevwn Ajntivgonon me;n ou\n eujqu;~ ajnevdhsan
bh``ma
kata; tou;~ Ajiguptivwn novmou~
The coronation of Antigonos Monophthalmos
Kleopatra VII and the Donations of Alexandria
meta; krovtou kai; kraugh`~
paravstasi~ iJerw`n
Demetrios Poliorketes in Athens
kaqierwvsante~ kai; bwmov~ ejpiqevnte~ Dhmhtrivou Kataibavtou proshgovreusan
The meeting of Kleopatra and Marcus Antonius
Antonius’ entry into Alexandria
nevo~ Diovnuso~
monovcrono~ ejudaimoniva
The procession of Antiochos Epiphanes at Daphne
monomavcwi
civlioi politikoi; de; triscivlioi iJppei`~ Nisai`oi ejpivlektoi civlioi
The Grand Procession of Ptolemaios Philadelphos
grafa; tw`n pentethrivdwn
trufhv
Ni``kai Eniauto~ Penteriv~ Wrai
stefavnh kevra~ stefavno~ mustiko;~
Banqueting
Holding court qerapeuovntoi).
toxovtai
mhlofovroi dorufovroi
dorufovroi
peri; th;n aujlh;n
koinov~
The reception of ambassadors
xevnoi
Thrones
qrovno~ klismoiv qrovno~ Dio;~ qrovno~ Qrovno~ cruvseo~ qrovno~
stefavnh stefavno~
Wedding ceremony
Hunting
oJ kunhgo;~
5.6 Conclusion: The Symbolism of Power
VI
Synthesis: A Golden Age
War
Empire pleonexiva (
Representation
Peace
Summary
Appendix: Regalia
1. The king’s costume
ı
divmitro~
divmitro~
truvfa karterov~
2. The diadem
− −
3. The royal sceptre
tuvranna skhptrovn skhvptra kai; qrovnou~
skhptroforevw
dovru
foivnix foivnio~
porfu?ra
Bibliography
Favti~ nikhfovro~
DIADOCOS THS BASILEIAS
Mousevwn ejn talavrw/
DIADOCOS THS BASILEIAS
Index
Samenvatting
Curriculum Vitae