Cult of the First Seleucid Kings in the Light of the New Inscription from Aigai in Aiolis
Journal Title: Eminak - Year 2017, Vol 1, Issue 2
Abstract
The article is based on the analysis of the newly discovered inscription from the ancient Greek city Aigai in Aiolis in the context of Early Hellenistic ruler cult. The inscription is an honorific decree of the polis Aigai for the first Seleucids – Seleukos I and Antiochus I. It proclaimed kings as «Saviors» and «Gods manifested themselves» and instituted their cult in the city with sacrifices, altars, temple, statues, games, priestly rituals and other divine honors. Comparing this decree with contemporary evidences of Seleucid royal cult, we see that the cult in Aigai was a part of cultic veneration of Seleukos and Antiochus spreading in Greek poleis in 281 BC after the victory of Seleukos at Kurupedium. Our analysis has shown that in various poleis Seleukos’ cult was constructed on the basis of a common pattern borrowed from the cult of the first Antigonids with some addictions from the Seleucid propaganda. So this veneration cannot be seen just as spontaneous response of the Greeks to «liberation» of Asia Minor from Lysimachus, as it traditionally considered. This was controlled and top-sponsored veneration of Seleucus as the victor in the war of the Diadochi and the Savior of the Greeks, which was to justify his ambitions for power in the whole empire of Alexanderthe Great.
Authors and Affiliations
Konstantyn Nefedov
Keywords
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