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Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire (312-63 BCE) was the vast political entity established by Seleucus I Nicator ("Victor" or "Unconquered", l. c. 358-281 BCE, r. 305-281 BCE), one of the generals of Alexander the Great who claimed a part of his empire after...
Definition
Commagene
The Kingdom of Commagene (163 BCE - 72 CE) was a Hellenistic political entity, heavily influenced by Armenian and ancient Persian culture and traditions, established in southwestern Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) by Ptolemaeus of Commagene...
Definition
Antiochia ad Cragum
Antiochia ad Cragum (“Antioch on the Cliffs” or “Antioch at Cragus”) was a Hellenistic Roman city located in Cilicia Trachea (“Rough Cilicia”, also known as Cilicia Aspera and Cilicia Secunda) on the southern...
Article
Exploring Mount Nemrut - A Meeting Point Between East & West
Set within the Anti-Taurus mountain range in southeastern Turkey, beyond the borders of Adiyaman, is the archaeological wonder of Mount Nemrut. Forgotten for centuries, the spellbinding peak of Nemrut Dagi (its Turkish name) has since managed...
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Ptolemy I Soter and Wife Eurydice
Ptolemy I Soter (367 - 283 BCE) was a trusted Macedonian general of Alexander the Great, and became ruler of Egypt. Engraved by an unknown artist after an ancient Roman relic. It was published in a history of Italian Renaissance art in 1883...
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Polybius' Capture of Achaeus and Fall of Sardis
Polybius' Capture of Achaeus and Fall of Sardis is the account of the end of the Siege of Sardis (215-213 BCE) by Antiochus III (aka Antiochus the Great, r. 223-187 BCE) of the Seleucid Empire after the betrayal and capture of his cousin...
Definition
Lighthouse of Alexandria
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was built on the island of Pharos outside the harbour of Alexandria, Egypt c. 300 - 280 BCE, during the reigns of Ptolemy I and II. With a height of over 100 metres (330 ft), the lighthouse was so impressive that...
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Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek Kingdoms in Ancient Texts
The rarity of the appearance of Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kingdoms in ancient literature is one of the reasons why those states are so little-known today. Indo-Greek literature did exist, but none has been found that speaks about the...
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Apollo-Mithras Meets Antiochus I
Found in the ancient ruins of Arsameia, outside Kahta, Turkey, 15 km from the world heritage site of Nemrut Dagi, this stele portrays the meeting of Antiochus I (r. 70 BCE - c. 38 BCE) and Apollo. Antiochus - the ruler of the Commagene kingdom...
Definition
Aytap
Aytap is the modern name for the ancient city of Iotapa (sometimes given as Iotape and Iotape Philadelphos) in Cilicia. The city's ruins are located in southern Turkey near modern day Alanya (ancient Coracesium). The city was founded in 52...