The Empire That Invented Its Own History, and Made It Stick

After the death of Alexander the Great, a new imperial power emerged across Western and Central Asia: the Seleucid Empire. But how did it actually hold such a vast territory together, and how much of its “history” was carefully constructed after the fact?

This week, we explore how Seleucid rulers shaped memory, built cities, minted propaganda on coins, and even influenced dating systems to legitimize their rule with Ben Abbott. Were they inheriting empire, or inventing it as they went?

📚 Reading Recommendations

Forging the Anchor: Antiochus I and the Creation of the Seleucid Empire by Benjamin Abbott

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🎙️ Credits

Guest: Dr. Benjamin Abbott

Hosted and edited by Dr. Jordan Jones

Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.