Figure 4 - uploaded by Rolf Strootman
Content may be subject to copyright.
1: Head of a colossal statue of Apollo-Helios-Mithra on the East Terrace of Nemrut Dağı (author's photograph). 2: Head of a colossal statue of Herakles-Artagnes on the East Terrace of Nemrut Dağı (author's photograph).
Source publication
R. Strootman, ‘Hellenism and Persianism in Iran: Culture and empire after Alexander the Great’, Dabir 7 (2020) 201–227.
Similar publications
Soğdya ve Soğdlar hakkında tarih literatüründe İpek Yolu boyunca kurdukları ticaret kolonileri ve geniş ve başarılı ticaret ağları üzerine çalışmalar yoğunluktadır. Ancak Soğdlar, Antik dönemden erken Orta çağ dönemine kadar sadece ticaret bahsinde değil dini, sosyal hayat bakımından da etkin gruplardır. Soğdlar bu alanlarda ve kadının statüsü üzer...
Citations
This article aims to introduce, explore, and analyse an oral folk tale called “Ahmad Sādāti and His Companions”, common in some Lur villages in Fārs and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces in Iran. The plot and storyline of this tale correspond to those of the myth of Ulysses and the giant Polyphemus in the Odyssey, attributed to Homer. The significance of this study lies in exhibiting the cultural exchange between Greek and local-indigenous subcultures of Iran. Greek and Persian cultures were in constant mutual contact from the mid-sixth century BC until late antiquity, and this contact became closer after Alexander’s campaign and the rise of the Seleucids in Iran. The study area is located on the western margins of the Iranian plateau – the birthplace of two great dynasties of Iranian rulers in ancient times – which redoubles the importance of the issue under investigation.
This chapter challenges the view that the Persian-Achaemenid Empire had already been in decline when Alexander the Great launched his campaign. It highlights the empire’s vitality and strength all over the fourth century BC and underlines its still vibrant capability to successfully face rebellion and uprising. No enemy from the outside was capable to seriously challenge the Achaemenids’ power in the period between Xerxes’ I reign and Alexander’s campaign. Even after the death of the last Achaemenid Great King Darius III the imperial apparatus was still intact, and its Iranian elites prepared and willing to fight the Macedonian invaders. More than once, the Macedonian conqueror found himself in a situation in which achieving his goals was only possible by launching a dialogue with the imperial agents. These endeavors created an atmosphere in which the Asian elites started to view Alexander as their legitimate ruler. Thus, the Achaemenid Empire’s downfall rather resulted in a process of transformation of its structures than in causing their abrupt and definite end.
In this chapter Michael Gehler, Robert Rollinger, and Philipp Strobl provide a comprehensive introduction into the topic of the volume. They present an overview on recent discussions about the ‘imperial turn’, the conceptualization of empire and the wide range of scholarly opinions and explanations revolving around the essential question why empires fail. Moreover, the authors offer brief summaries of each contribution of the volume exhibiting the fascinating variety of approaches on a global scale and through different periods in human history.KeywordsImperial turnEmpireGlobal comparisonFailure of empires
