Greek Gods Abroad by Parker Robert

Author:Parker, Robert
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780520293946
Publisher: University of California Press

Gods Favoured by DynastiesGods particularly favoured by the royal sponsors of the settlement certainly also entered the mix, perhaps even as a central ingredient. From the time of Antiochus I, Apollo was honoured as the ancestor of the Seleucid dynasty; Seleucus I himself, though emphasising Zeus on his coinage, built a spectacular new sanctuary for Apollo at “Daphne” by Antioch in Syria. Wherever, therefore, Apollo appears in a Seleucid foundation or refoundation, influence direct or indirect of that dynastic claim is regularly suspected.72 Given the god’s universal popularity the case can scarcely be proved, but sometimes acquires circumstantial support. At Amyzon, a Carian town centred on a sanctuary of “Artemis,” Apollo starts to be mentioned in first place before the goddess at the time when the sanctuary comes under the protection of Antiochus III.73 At Alabanda/Antioch in Caria, the god bears the title Isotimos, “equal in honour.” He acquired the unique epithet, it has been suggested, when his cult was introduced by a Seleucid alongside that of the hitherto dominant Zeus.74

Attalid influence is a little easier to trace, since the Attalid special gods bore distinctive epithets: Athena was Nikephoros, “Victory-Bringer,” Dionysus Kathegemon, “Leader.” It is not a coincidence that a dedication at Panion on the north shore of the Propontis, which acclaimed Eumenes II as founder, was made “for Eumenes, saviour and benefactor and founder of the city, to Zeus Soter, Athena Nikephoros, and Apollo,” nor that Dionysus Kathegemon is attested at Philadelpheia in Lydia, an Attalid foundation, and at Thyateira in Lydia, a Seleucid foundation taken over by the Attalids. The presence of this god at Acmonia, and nearby Sebaste, in Phrygia may hint at an otherwise unattested Attalid involvement with Acmonia; the same undoubtedly applies to the priest of Athena Nikephoros at Blaundos on the Lydo-Phrygian border.75 Near Thyateira “the Heracleasts settled in Mernouphyta from (the time of?) King Attalos and Eumenes” survive as late as the second century A.D.; Heracleasts too are no surprise given the Attalids’ claim to descent from that hero.76 A Lydian settlement Pantheotai has been tentatively identified as Attalid because of the Attalid cult of “all the gods”;77 and the Attalid refoundation Dionysopolis in western Phrygia clearly reflects their enthusiasm for Dionysus. But it is never certain in such cases, except the last named, that the “Attalid” cult was introduced precisely at the moment of foundation/refoundation. “Founder’s preference” does appear, in bizarre form, in the city Ouranopolis consecrated to Aphrodite Ourania on Mount Athos by Cassander’s eccentric brother Alexarchos.78 What to say in this regard about Antiochus IV is very controversial: can the sudden return to prominence of Zeus on his coinage be combined with known cases where he promoted cults of Zeus Olympios to give a general policy? And, if so, can such cults not associated with him by any source be nonetheless ascribed to his initiative?79 Decisive arguments have yet to be found.80

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