Hellenistic Kingdoms

Hellenistic history is en vogue, and it seems that the Seleukids have dethroned the long-time favourite Ptolemies in the recent wave of scholarly production. With their core territories Syria and Babylonia, and their rule extending further over much of Asia Minor, Media, Elymais, Persia, Parthia, and Baktria, the Seleukids controlled the largest of the Hellenistic kingdoms after the death of Alexander the Great. They energetically reshaped the political and cultic landscape of uncountable peoples and cities in the Near East, creating an impressive legacy. Although the violent conflicts with the Judaeans under Antiochos IV Epiphanes largely denigrated their image, at least in the Biblical tradition, and the defeat of Antiochos III Megas by the Romans at Magnesia further damaged their reputation, such perspectives from hindsight should not mislead us in our assessment of the most powerful and highly resilient dynasty of the early and middle Hellenistic periods.

My own research takes place in the collaborative contexts of the Seleukid Study Group (since 2011), the virtual Seleukid Lecture Series in 2021 (co-hosted with Rabbi Ben Scolnic), and the book series Seleukid Perspectives (co-edited with Rabbi Ben Scolnic) (since 2023). I previously held SSHRC grants and intend to apply again in the near future. I am Professor of Classical Studies and Director of the Waterloo Institute of Hellenistic Studies.

Fields of research

• Hellenistic dynasties, kings, queens, sons, and daughters
• The Seleukid kingdom, also adjacent the kingdoms of the Mithradatids, Attalids, and Maccabees
• Syncretic cults, ruler cults
• City foundations, military settlements
• Ethnic identity and hybridity in a multicultural society