Chapter 4
The Hellenistic
World, 336–146 B.C.
Tetrapylon of Aphrodisias.
Tetrapylon of Aphrodisias. This
monumental gate celebrates the
beautiful and rich city of Aphrodisias
in modern Turkey.
John Buckler
Alexander’s Conquests
This map shows the course of Alexander’s invasion of the Persian Empire and the
speed of his progress. More important than the great success of his military
campaigns was his founding of Hellenistic cities in the East.
Tazza Farnese
This exquisite detail of a cameo bowl from Hellenistic Egypt dates from about 125
B.C. The figure on the left represents the Nile pouring out the horn of plenty. The
other figures represent the deities who gave Egypt its great riches.
G. Dagli-Orti/ The Art Archive
The Main Street of Pergamum
No matter where in old Greece they had come from, all Greeks would immediately feel
at home walking along this main street in Pergamum. They would all see familiar sights.
To the left is the top of the theater where they could watch the plays of the great
dramatists, climb farther to the temple, and admire the fortifications on the right.
Faith Cimok, Turkey
Theater of Stratos
Excavation of this theater in Stratos, a major city in northwestern Greece, began only in
1994. Not a city in the mainstream of Greek affairs, Stratos nevertheless shared the love
and appreciation of the arts that stamped all of Greek culture. Even in its partially excavated
state, the theater boasts the remains of a stone building in the foreground, the orchestra,
and behind it the seats. Beyond its many architectural refinements, the theater is of interest
because most Greek plays were staged in small theaters such as this.
John Buckler
Marital Advice
This small terra-cotta sculpture is generally seen as a mother advising her daughter, a
new bride. Such intimate scenes of ordinary people were popular in the Hellenistic
world, in contrast to the idealized statues of gods and goddesses of the
classical period.
British Museum/Michael Holford
Cultural Blending
Ptolemy V, a Macedonian by birth and
the Hellenistic king of Egypt, dedicated
this stone to the Egyptian sacred bull of
the Egyptian god Ptah. Nothing here is
Greek or Macedonian, a sign that the
conquered had, in some religious and
ceremonial ways, won over their
conquerors.
Egyptian Museum, Cairo
Harbor and Warehouse
at Delos
During the Hellenistic period Delos
became a thriving trading center.
Shown here is the row of warehouses
at water’s edge. From Delos cargoes
were shipped to virtually every part of
the Mediterranean.
Rolf Richardson/age fotostock/superstock
Hellenistic Magic
This magical text, written in Greek
and Egyptian, displays a snake
surrounding the magical incantation.
The text is intentionally obscure.
British Library
Hellenistic Mystery Cult
The scene depicts part of the ritual of initiation into the cult of Dionysus. The young
woman here has just completed the ritual. She now dances in joy as the official with the
sacred staff looks on.
Scala/Art Resource, NY
Tyche
This statue depicts Tyche as the bringer
of bounty to people. Some Hellenistic
Greeks worshiped Tyche in the hope
that she would be kind to them.
Philosophers tried to free people from
her whimsies. Others tried to placate
her.
Faith Cimok, Turkey
Archimedes’ mill.
Archimedes’ mill. A slave turns a large cylinder fitted with blades to form a screw that
draws water from a well.
Courtesy, Soprintendenza Archeologica di Pompei. Photograph by Penelope M. Allison
Catapult
This model shows a catapult as its crew would have seen it in action. The arrow was
loaded on the long horizontal beam, its point fitting into the housing. There the torsion
spring under great pressure released the arrow at the target, which could be some 400
yards away.
Courtesy, Noel Kavan
This gilded case for a bow and arrows indicates that Alexander’s
success came at the price of blood.
This gilded case for a bow and arrows indicates that Alexander’s success came at the
price of blood. These vigorous scenes portray more military conflict than philosophical
compassion.
Archaeological Museum Salonica/Dagli-Orti/The Art Archive