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Identity and Material Culture in Seleucid Jebel Khalid

Ion, Sabina A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin147981964305723

Abstract Details

2016, MA, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Classics.
This thesis examines the archaeological evidence for the formation of identity within new colonial foundations in Seleucid Syria from the early third century to the first century B.C. Although this topic has been addressed relating to other Hellenistic Kingdoms, within the Seleucid Kingdom the dearth of undisturbed occupational levels has limited the scope of discussion. Owing to its remarkable levels of preservation and subsequent publication, this thesis uses the site of Jebel Khalid, located on the Euphrates River in modern Syria, as a case study to address this gap. Where available, I draw on other settlements to establish a broader perspective of how cultural preferences manifested themselves throughout the breadth of the Seleucid Kingdom. To examine how the Greco-Macedonian settlers constructed their identities in Jebel Khalid, I examine the available architectural and material evidence from the site. During the initial phase of occupation (Phase A, early third century B.C. to 150 B.C.) the settlement’s nature as a Seleucid foundation heavily influenced the architectural choices in both the public and domestic spheres. Simultaneously, the presence of a new fortified town in the area made a declarative statement of Seleucid strength to the local people. In the second phase (Phase B, 150 B.C.- ca. 70/60 B.C.) local Syrian and Eastern trade networks gained prominence as invading Parthians drew Seleucid interest towards borders and away from sites such as Jebel Khalid. Local production of international pottery forms, based on Greco-Macedonian predecessors, demonstrate another way in which market demand was being met at Jebel Khalid. A hyper-local presence is seen in the cook wares and the appearance of Semitic names in local production. Finally, I examine the temple; this is the edifice that the excavators of Jebel Khalid believe shows the most evidence of cultural hybridization; a building employing elements from the architecture of both ethnic groups but united in a new expression, one that would be both familiar and foreign to all. The presence of different cultural elements within this Seleucid outpost combined to create an identity that was predominantly Greco-Macedonian; this same identity, seen through the architecture and ceramics of Jebel Khalid also demonstrates the gradual process of incorporating local people into the cultural and economic fabric of a Seleucid foundation.
Barbara Burrell, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Antonios Kotsonas, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
128 p.
Archaeology
Seleucid; Jebel Khalid; Material Culture; Identity; Hellenistic; Syria

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ion, S. A. (2016). Identity and Material Culture in Seleucid Jebel Khalid [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin147981964305723

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ion, Sabina. Identity and Material Culture in Seleucid Jebel Khalid. 2016. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin147981964305723.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ion, Sabina. "Identity and Material Culture in Seleucid Jebel Khalid." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin147981964305723

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin147981964305723
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© 2016, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Identity and Material Culture in Seleucid Jebel Khalid by Sabina A Ion is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.