University of Heidelberg

Researcher: Dr. Nicolas Zenzen
 

Scholarly Goals 

The purpoThe purpose of this archeological subproject is to get an idea of ‘everyday relations’ between Greece and the Ancient Near East. Through the medium of material flows, we hope to move beyond – and presumably even in contrary to – the political propaganda of the different phases of confrontation. se of this archeological subproject is to get an idea of ‘everyday relations’ between Greece and the Ancient Near East. Through the medium of material flows, we hope to move beyond – and presumably even in contrary to – the political propaganda of the different phases of confrontation.
 

Programme

First, to provide a background for the study, we are going to examine the cultural exchange between Greek poleis and different parts of the Persian Empire. This includes all kinds of sources for mutual cognition, for migration, for flows of technological and scientific knowledge, for economic relations and so on, from the emergence of the Persian Empire in the mid-sixth century B.C. until its conquest by Alexander the Great.
 
In particular, we will examine the transfer of objects between Athens and the Levant, i.e. a region positioned in the modern states of Lebanon, Israel, Syria, and Turkey. For this purpose, we compiled a database of published objects of Athenian origin found in this area, dating to the aforementioned period and, vice versa, of eastern objects attested in Athens (mainly by written sources).
Regional differences and changes, by quantity and quality over time, in the pattern of dissemination of these objects will give us an impression of cultural exchange that does not depend on few individual perspectives and intentions, such as literary sources provide.
 

Scholarly Innovation

Although Greek-Oriental relations have been discussed in a wide range of studies undertaken in recent years, this project incorporates some aspects of these subject that have yet to receive adequate consideration. While there exists ample research on material exchange in the bronze age, the geometric and early archaic period, especially in the fifth and fourth century B.C. attention has traditionally been focused on a narrow range of objects, such as on pieces of Persian war booty in Greek sanctuaries or on exceptional Greek works of art, for instance the so-called “Alexander Sarcophagus” from Sidon. Moreover most existing studies are limited to a special category of objects, a narrow chronological or geographical range. Furthermore, past studies of Greek-Oriental material exchange have generally treated the subject as a one-way street: only one direction of the exchange, namely from the East to Greece in archaic times and from Greece to the East in Hellenistic times, has been extensively studied. The mutual effects of such exchange have in many cases been neglected. We therefore expect the results of our project to give us new perspectives on Greek-Oriental relations. 

Methodology

It must be stated that the present project must confront a number of methodological difficulties in order to produce accurate conclusions. First of all, the current state of research does not provide a statistically objective picture of the reality of material exchange. The survival of a single object depends on many factors and is haphazard by result. Secondly, the objects that are preserved reflect only a small part of the original exchange, since many trade goods consisted of perishable materials, such as wood and textiles; were consumables, such as wine, oil, cosmetics, fruits, grain etc.; or were immaterial in nature, such as the services as mercenaries or artisans. Thirdly, for most of the individual objects that survive, it is impossible to say which form of exchange – trade, migration, gifts, tribute – they attest.
 
It is thus evident that a sound theoretical framework is essential to attaining convincing results. The study will therefore provide not only new information about East-West relations but also helpful models for further research.