The Land of the Elephant Kings : Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire

The Seleucid Empire (311-64 BCE) was unlike anything the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds had seen. Stretching from present-day Bulgaria to Tajikistan--the bulk of Alexander the Great's Asian conquests--the kingdom encompassed a territory of remarkable ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity; yet it did not include Macedonia, the ancestral homeland of the dynasty. __The Land of the Elephant Kings__ investigates how the Seleucid kings, ruling over lands to which they had no historic claim, attempted to transform this territory into a coherent and meaningful space. Based on recent archaeological evidence and ancient primary sources, Paul J. Kosmin's multidisciplinary approach treats the Seleucid Empire not as a mosaic of regions but as a land unified in imperial ideology and articulated by spatial practices. Kosmin uncovers how Seleucid geographers and ethnographers worked to naturalize the kingdom's borders with India and Central Asia in ways that shaped Roman and later medieval understandings of "the East." In the West, Seleucid rulers turned their backs on Macedonia, shifting their sense of homeland to Syria. By mapping the Seleucid kings' travels and studying the cities they founded--an ambitious colonial policy that has influenced the Near East to this day--Kosmin shows how the empire's territorial identity was constructed on the ground. In the empire's final century, with enemies pressing harder and central power disintegrating, we see that the very modes by which Seleucid territory had been formed determined the way in which it fell apart. "The Seleucid Empire (311-64 BCE) was unlike anything the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds had seen. Stretching from present-day Bulgaria to Tajikistan -- the bulk of Alexander the Great's Asian conquests -- the kingdom encompassed a territory of remarkable ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity; yet it did not include Macedonia, the ancestral homeland of the dynasty. The Land of the Elephant Kings investigates how the Seleucid kings, ruling over lands to which they had no historic claim, attempted to transform this territory into a coherent and meaningful space. Based on recent archaeological evidence and ancient primary sources, Paul J. Kosmin's multidisciplinary approach treats the Seleucid Empire not as a mosaic of regions but as a land unified in imperial ideology and articulated by spatial practices. Kosmin uncovers how Seleucid geographers and ethnographers worked to naturalize the kingdom's borders with India and Central Asia in ways that shaped Roman and later medieval understandings of "the East." In the West, Seleucid rulers turned their backs on Macedonia, shifting their sense of homeland to Syria. By mapping the Seleucid kings' travels and studying the cities they founded -- an ambitious colonial policy that has influenced the Near East to this day -- Kosmin shows how the empire's territorial identity was constructed on the ground. In the empire's final century, with enemies pressing harder and central power disintegrating, we see that the very modes by which Seleucid territory had been formed determined the way in which it fell apart."--Rabat de la jaquette The Seleucid Empire (311-64 BCE) was unlike anything the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds had seen. Stretching from present-day Bulgaria to Tajikistan -- the bulk of Alexander the Great's Asian conquests -- the kingdom encompassed a territory of remarkable ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity; yet it did not include Macedonia, the ancestral homeland of the dynasty. The Land of the Elephant Kings investigates how the Seleucid kings, ruling over lands to which they had no historic claim, attempted to transform this territory into a coherent and meaningful space. Based on recent archaeological evidence and ancient primary sources, Paul J. Kosmin's multidisciplinary approach treats the Seleucid Empire not as a mosaic of regions but as a land unified in imperial ideology and articulated by spatial practices. Kosmin uncovers how Seleucid geographers and ethnographers worked to naturalize the kingdom's borders with India and Central Asia in ways that shaped Roman and later medieval understandings of "the East." In the West, Seleucid rulers turned their backs on Macedonia, shifting their sense of homeland to Syria. By mapping the Seleucid kings' travels and studying the cities they founded -- an ambitious colonial policy that has influenced the Near East to this day -- Kosmin shows how the empire's territorial identity was constructed on the ground. In the empire's final century, with enemies pressing harder and central power disintegrating, we see that the very modes by which Seleucid territory had been formed determined the way in which it fell apart. - Publisher. A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the YearThe Seleucid Empire (311–64 BCE) was unlike anything the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds had seen. Stretching from present-day Bulgaria to Tajikistan—the bulk of Alexander the Great's Asian conquests—the kingdom encompassed a territory of remarkable ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity; yet it did not include Macedonia, the ancestral homeland of the dynasty. The Land of the Elephant Kings investigates how the Seleucid kings, ruling over lands to which they had no historic claim, attempted to transform this territory into a coherent and meaningful space.“This engaging book appeals to the specialist and non-specialist alike. Kosmin has successfully brought together a number of disparate fields in a new and creative way that will cause a reevaluation of how the Seleucids have traditionally been studied.”—Jeffrey D. Lerner, American Historical Review“It is a useful and bright introduction to Seleucid ideology, history, and position in the ancient world.”—Jan P. Stronk, American Journal of Archaeology Contents 8 List of Maps 10 List of Illustrations 12 List of Abbreviations 14 Introduction 18 I. Border 46 1. India—Diplomacy and Ethnography at the Mauryan Frontier 48 2. Central Asia— Nomads, Ocean, and the Desire for Line 76 II. Homeland 94 3. Macedonia—From Center to Periphery 96 4. Syria—Diasporic Imperialism 110 Interlude—The Kingdom of Asia 138 III. Movement 144 5. Arrivals and Departures 146 6. The Circulatory System 159 IV. Colony 198 7. King Makes City 200 8. City Makes King 239 Conclusion 270 Appendix: On the Date of Megasthenes’ Indica 278 Notes 290 Glossary 378 References 386 Acknowledgments 424 Index 426 Introduction Part I : Border. India : diplomacy and ethnography at the Mauryan frontier Central Asia : nomads, ocean, and the desire for line Part II : Homeland. Macedonia : from center to periphery Syria : diasporic imperialism Interlude : The Kingdom of Asia Part III : Movement. Arrivals and departures The circulatory system Part IV : Colony. King makes city City makes king Conclusion Appendix : On the date of Megasthenes' Indica Notes Glossary Conté: "Part I. Border -- India: diplomacy and ethnography at the Mauryan frontier -- Central Asia: nomads, ocean, and the desire for line -- Part II. Homeland -- Macedonia: from center to periphery -- Syria: diasporic imperialism -- Interlude: the Kingdom of Asia -- Part III. Movement -- Arrivals and departures -- The circulatory system -- Part IV. Colony -- King makes city -- City makes king."