Hellenistic era
MÖ 334 - 133 · Kingdoms and new centres
How to read this period
Covering MÖ 334 - 133, the Hellenistic era dossier is a reading point within the long transformation of settlement, movement, production and belief networks across the Aegean. Kingdoms and new centres. Period boundaries are used to compare layers that changed at different speeds in different places, rather than to imply a clean historical break.
Records from the coast, valleys and inland areas are not reduced to one line of development. Region, place and narrative links are used to compare shared patterns with local differences.
Regional readings
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Places from this period
Period stories
Research timeline archive
- From Afyonkarahisar Synnada Leo Telegraph to Halicarnassus Leochares Mausoleum and Knidos Chrysermus Pharmacology: Beacon Telegraphy, Mausoleum Sculpture, and Alexandrian Pharmacology
- Alabanda Karian League Sacred Council Assembly and Zeus Chrysaoreus Festival (200 BCE)
- From Alabanda to Amyzon Sanctuary and Piginda Fortress: Zeus Chrysaoreus Temple, Satrap Mausolus Decree, and 3,000-Seat Mountain Theater
- Education of Cicero by Menecles of Alabanda and Transformation of Roman Senate Oratory (79 BC)
- Establishment of Apameia Kibotos Caravan Market and the Marsyas Myth (3rd c. BCE)
- The long work of stone at Aphrodisias: from quarry to apprentice, Aphrodite to Geyre
- Hiding of Aristotle's and Theophrastus's Manuscripts in Skepsis Underground Vault (200 BCE)
- From Aydın Alabanda Hermogenes' Architecture to Nysa Dionysius Thrax Grammar and Ephesus Apollonius Dyskolos Syntax: Classical Architecture, World Grammar, and Syntax Theory
- From Aydın Alabanda Menecles Oratory to Mastaura Diophanes Reform and Teos Androsthenes Astronomy: Roman Oratory, Agrarian Reform, and Geared Astronomy
- From Aydın Alabanda Papinianus Law to Tralles Metrodorus Geometry and Halicarnassus Timotheus Mausoleum: Roman Jurisprudence, Hagia Sophia Geometry, and Mausoleum Sculptures
- From Balıkesir Cyzicus Eudoxus Navigation to İzmir Smyrna Quintus Epic and Colophon Hermesianax Elegiacs: Indian Ocean Navigation, Trojan War Epic, and Elegiac Love Poetry
- From Bargylia Artemis Temple to Tuzla Flamingos and Akyaka River: Pegasus Myth, Pink Bird Flocks, and Crystal Azmak Waters
- Pergamon and Aizanoi: a Hellenistic Inner Aegean threshold
- The road of a question: from Miletus to Didyma, from harbour to delta
- From Burgaz to Palamutbükü and Reşadiye Mansion: Old Knidos, Amphora Kilns, and Datça Stone Architecture
- Alexander the Great's Victory at the Granicus River (334 BCE)
- Progradation of the Büyük Menderes Delta and Silting of the Latmic Gulf (6th c. BCE — 6th c. CE)
- From Cadianda Mountain City to Dalyan Radar Hill and Yaka Art Academy: 5th-Century BC Lycian Acropolis, 450m Delta Panorama, and Olive Press Conversion
- Construction of Cadianda Lycian Mountain City Walls and Acropolis (400 BC)
- Geographer Strabo's Education at Nysa ad Maeandrum and the Roman Library (50 BCE)
- From Domatia Greek Stone Houses to Karina Pier and Thebae Walls: Mount Mykale Mansions, Lagoon Fisheries, and Hellenistik Fortresses
- From the Edremit Gulf to the Dikili Islands: Adramytteion, the Gömeç Olive Plain, and Kalem Island
- From Erythrai Athena Temple to Bademler Village Theater and Özbek Stone Pier: Sea Theaters, Village Stages, and Stone Piers
- Three Thresholds of Gediz: Sardis, Kula and Alaşehir
- From Gerga Sanctuary to Köyceğiz Lake and Saklıkent Canyon: Megalithic Karian Temple, Kaunos Saltworks, and 300m Gorge Walls
- From Granicus Battlefield to Lampsakos Philosophy and Agonya Forests: Alexander's Victory, Anaxagoras' Exile, and Mount Ida Timber Houses
- Construction of the Metropolis Bouleuterion and Belevi Mausoleum (246 BCE)
- From the Hellespont Strait to the Fortresses and Ewers of Çanakkale: Sestos, Kilitbahir, and Pottery Craft
- From Herakleia Salbake Medical School to Medet Mound and Işıklı Lake Eumeneia: Surgical Reliefs, Bektashi Monastery, and Water Lily Sanctuary
- Foundation of Herakleia Salbake Medical Center and Charter of Eumeneia (180 BCE)
- From Iasos Fish Market Museum to Keramos Kurşunlu Yapı and Mobolla Chimneyed Mansions: Maritime Walls, Massive Ashlar Masonry, and Muğla Chimneys
- Lakes, Mounds, and Trade Routes of the Inland Aegean: From Beycesultan to Apameia and the Walls of Amorium
- Rock Cities of the Inland Aegean and the Roman Stock Exchange: From Aizanoi to Ayazini and the Blaundos Cliffs
- Where Two Seas Meet: The Lighthouse of Knidos, Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, and Rock Tombs of Kaunos
- Olives, Wine, and Prophecies of Ionia: The İzmir Peninsula from Klazomenai to Teos and Klaros
- From İzmir Aelius Aristides' Smyrna Oratory to Magnesia Pytheos Architecture and Teos Theodosius Geometry: Imperial Oratory, Halicarnassus Mausoleum, and Spherical Geometry
- From İzmir Bergama Ctesibius' Water Organ to Knidos Androsthenes Ocean Voyages and Pergamon Apollonius Conics: Pneumatics, Ocean Navigation, and Planetary Conics
- From İzmir Ephesus Rufus Neuroanatomy to Magnesia Hegesias Oratory and Bergama Telephus Grammar: Ancient Neuroanatomy, Asianism Rhetoric, and Imperial Tutoship
- From İzmir Ephesus Soranus Medicine to Aydın Tralles Apollonius Sculpture and Germencik Menesthes Architecture: Gynecological Medicine, Farnese Bull Sculpture, and Ionic Architecture
- From İzmir Ephesus Xenophon's Romantic Novel to Priene Isidore Hagia Sophia and Halicarnassus Bryaxis Serapis: Romantic Literature, Dome Architecture, and Monumental Sculpture
- From İzmir Epicurus' Teos Garden to Nysa Aristodemus Library and Miletus Hecataeus Map: Epicureanism, Roman Rhetoric, and World's First Map
- From İzmir Erythrai Sibyl Oracles to Teos Hermogenes Architecture and Tralles Apollonius Sculpture: Roman Capitol Oracles, Pseudodipteral Layout, and Farnese Bull
- From İzmir Colophon Mimnermus Poetry to Teos Nausiphanes Philosophy and Knidos Chrysippus Medicine: Lyrical Poetry, Atomist Philosophy, and Experimental Dietetics
- From İzmir Smyrna Hermippus Biography to Teos Boëthos Sculptures and Knidos Ctesias Persica: Classical Biography, Bronze Sculptures, and Persian History
- Alliance of Queen Ada of Caria and Alexander the Great at Alinda (334 BCE)
- Sacred Ways and Key-Bearers of Caria: Mountain Rituals from Lagina to Labraunda
- Kleidophoros Key-Bearing Ceremony and Hekatesia Festivals
- Construction of Knidos Double Harbors, Eudoxus Observatory, and Scientific Revolution (4th c. BCE)
- Discovery of Experimental Physiology and Central Nervous System by Erasistratus of Cnidus (280 BC)
- From the Latmos Mountains to the Walls of Alinda: Herakleia Rock Art, the Temple of Zeus at Euromos, and Queen Ada
- Erection of the Letoon Trilingual Inscription Pedestal (358 BCE)
- Lydian Gold and the Royal Road: Sardis Coinage, Bin Tepe Pyramids, and Kula Volcanoes
- Establishment of the Lycian League and Entry of Pinara and Sidyma (168 BCE)
- From Lycus to the Büyük Menderes: Laodicea, Hierapolis and Tripolis
- Three cities in the Menderes valley: Nysa, Mastaura, Tralleis
- Meanders of the Maeander: Landlocked Cities from the Latmic Gulf to Lake Bafa
- Valley of Marble and Healing: Sculptors of Aphrodisias, Waters of Pamukkale, and Textiles of Laodicea
- From Metropolis Council to Belevi Mausoleum and Torbalı Aqueducts: Mother Goddess City, Royal Tombs, and Roman Aqueducts
- From Muğla Bodrum Scylax Explorations to Balıkesir Xenocles Oratory and Aydın Nysa Strabo Geography: Maritime Exploration, Roman Oratory, and World Geography
- From Muğla Knidos Agatharchides Geography to Tralles Alexander Medicine and Halicarnassus Hegesander Laocoön: Red Sea Geography, Imperial Medicine, and Vatican Sculptures
- From Muğla Knidos Erasistratus' Physiology to Ephesus Artemidorus Dream Science and Tire Xenocrates Pharmacology: Experimental Neuroanatomy, Dream Psychology, and Imperial Pharmacology
- From Muğla Knidos Sosigenes Calendar to Yatağan Metrodorus Philosophy and Aydın Nysa Menestheus Grammar: Julian Calendar Astronomy, Academic Philosophy, and Classical Philology
- From Mylasa to Labraunda: the threshold of city and mountain
- From the Canyon Library of Nysa to Mastaura Amphitheater and Arpaz Castle
- Authoring of Téchne Grammatikē (The World's First Systematic Grammar Textbook) by Dionysius Thrax of Nysa (170 BC)
- From Parion Odeon to Priapos Wine Harbor and Kemer Aqueducts: Colony City, Vineyard Port, and Roman Aqueducts
- Pergamon, Halicarnassus, Miletus: paths of knowledge
- Invention of the Water Organ (Hydraulis) and Force Pump by Ctesibius of Pergamon (270 BC)
- From Philadelpheia to Katakekaumene Vineyards and Kurşunlu Han: Seven Churches, Volcanic Wine, and Caravan Routes
- From the Pentekonters of Phokaia to Çandarlı Castle: Eski Foça, Kyme, and Aeolian Sea Routes
- From Pinara Hive Tombs to Sidyma Heroon and Babadağ Peaks: Vertical Acropolises, Roman Heroons, and Sacred Peaks
- From Smintheion Apollo to Hadımoğlu Mansion and Skepsis Manuscripts: Iliad Friezes, 1795 Carved Ceiling, and Aristotle's Vault
- From Synnada to İshaklı Caravanserai and Afyon Castle: Phrygian Coins, Seljuk Sultan Hans, and Volcanic Citadels
- From Tabea Rock Citadel to Serinhisar Roasted Chickpeas and Acıpayam Yazır Mosque: Hellenistik Walls, 500-Year Ovens, and 1801 Painted Mosque
- From Amyntas Tomb at Telmessos to Tlos Acropolis and Letoon Sanctuary: Rock Tombs, Pegasus, and Trilingual Inscription
- Education of Epicurus by Nausiphanes of Teos and Establishment of Tean Atomist Philosophy (320 BC)
- Design of the Pseudodipteral Temple of Dionysus at Teos by Master Architect Hermogenes (220 BC)
- From Thyateira Purple Cloth to Demirci Carpets and Darkale Stone Houses: Seven Churches, Wool Rugs, and Tarhala Cliff Houses
- From Tralleis Üç Gözler to Seikilos Epitaph and Nysa Canyon Aqueducts: Vaulted Gymnasion, World's Oldest Song, and Water Tunnels
- From Tripolis Colonnaded Street to Buldan Weaving Houses and Peat Lake: Marble Avenues, Hand Looms, and Water Lily Plateaus
- Harbors of Troas and Forests of Mount Ida: North Aegean Networks from the Dardanelles to Kapıdağ