Hellenistic Culture

History 126Dr. Anita Fisher

Philip of Macedon

•Gradual dominance in Greece

•Father of Alexander The Great

•Husband of Olympias

Olympias

Alexander the Great

Alexander’s Characteristics

•Physically attractive•Physicially fit•Intellectually gifted•Charistmatic leader•Brilliant general

Alexander’s Conquests & Achievements

• Never lost a battle• Battle of Issus – most

famous• Founded over 70 cities• Created enomous empire

– 3 continents– Over 2 million square miles

• Area united by common Greek language & culture– Called Hellenistic

Battle of Issus

Alexander & Bucephalas

Alexander & Horse Bucephalas

Alexander & His Followers

Nectanebo – 380 b.c.e.30th Dynasty

Sarcophagus of Nectanebo

Philae Temple to Isis

Egypt during the Ptolemies

323-30 b.c.e.

City ofAlexandria

• 1st Egyptian sea port• Within 11 yrs largest

& richest city in world– Population – 1 million

• Library & university – greatest glory

Library at Alexander

Library at Alexandria

Pharos

Reconstruction

Pharos lighthous

e at Alexandri

a

Alexandria Obelisk

now in New York

Central Park

Map – Post Alexander

Edfu Temple

Edfu Temple

Dendera Temple to Hathor

Birth House at Dendera

Circular Zodiac

atDendera

Dendera

Esna Temple to Horus

Cleopatra VII

Caesar Augustus

Roman Rule of Egypt

Holy Family’s

Trek to Egypt

Apostle Mark

Coptic Church

Al-muallaqa

= Hanging

Church = Coptic Church

Roman Amphitheater at Alexandria

Successor States to Alexander

• Ptolemic Dynasty– Ruled Great Egypt

• Lasted Until 30 B.C.E.– Last One – Cleopatra Vii

• Seleucid Dynasty– Ruled Northern Syria &

Old Persian Empire

• Antigonid Dynasty– Ruled Greek Areas

Hellenistic Religion

•Movement away from olympic dieties

•To mystery & salvation cults– Almost all centered on death &

resurrection of god

– & Promise of personal salvation

Hellenistic Art

• More dynamic poses• Acceptable for women in

nude• More realistic scuptures• Older people, etc. Not just

ideal body type

Winged Victory

at Samothra

ce

Dying Gaul

Old Woman

Laocoon & His Sons

VenusDe Milo

Hellenistic Philosophy

• 4 Major Schools– Skeptics

– Cynics

• Diogenes - Most Famous

– Stoics

• Zeno – Founder of Stoicism

– Epicureans

• Epicurus - Founder

Skeptic Philosophy

Pyrrho of Elis

The Father of Skepticism

Cynic Philosophy

DiogenesThe Father of Cynicism

Diogenes

Stoic Philosoph

y

ZenoThe Father of Stoicism

Epicurean Philosoph

y

Epicurus

The Father of Epicureanis

m