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Faces Beyond the Thousand Cities: Negotiating Power Through Graeco‑Bactrian Numismatic Portraiture

Athanasiadis, Anastasios LU (2026) ARKM37 20261
Department of Archaeology and Ancient History
Abstract
The following study provides a comparative analysis of Graeco-Bactrian issues in relation to the coinage of earlier and contemporary Hellenistic dynasties, within an iconological and semiotic theoretical framework. This thesis examines the visual strategies employed by Graeco-Bactrian rulers in their attempts to construct royal legitimacy. Through the close examination of 52 extant Hellenistic coin types, this study identifies continuities and innovations in symbolism and political messaging through the use of reconfigured attributes. Graeco-Bactrian rulers were able to express royal legitimacy by adopting familiar Hellenistic traits, such as the royal diadem, clean-shaven face, and divine motifs. They were further able to articulate... (More)
The following study provides a comparative analysis of Graeco-Bactrian issues in relation to the coinage of earlier and contemporary Hellenistic dynasties, within an iconological and semiotic theoretical framework. This thesis examines the visual strategies employed by Graeco-Bactrian rulers in their attempts to construct royal legitimacy. Through the close examination of 52 extant Hellenistic coin types, this study identifies continuities and innovations in symbolism and political messaging through the use of reconfigured attributes. Graeco-Bactrian rulers were able to express royal legitimacy by adopting familiar Hellenistic traits, such as the royal diadem, clean-shaven face, and divine motifs. They were further able to articulate dynastic distinction through the reconfiguration of already established Hellenistic conventions, and presented their authority as both inherently martial and divinely sanctioned by introducing personal epithets and military headgear. This thesis argues that Bactrian coin portraits should not be viewed merely as imitations of earlier, Hellenistic issues but as dynamic expressions of localized identity paired creatively with the visual language of Hellenistic kingship. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Athanasiadis, Anastasios LU
supervisor
organization
course
ARKM37 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Graeco-Bactrian kingdom, Hellenistic coinage, semiotics, royal legitimacy, numismatics
language
English
id
9245394
date added to LUP
2026-07-14 09:44:07
date last changed
2026-07-14 09:44:07
@misc{9245394,
  abstract     = {{The following study provides a comparative analysis of Graeco-Bactrian issues in relation to the coinage of earlier and contemporary Hellenistic dynasties, within an iconological and semiotic theoretical framework. This thesis examines the visual strategies employed by Graeco-Bactrian rulers in their attempts to construct royal legitimacy. Through the close examination of 52 extant Hellenistic coin types, this study identifies continuities and innovations in symbolism and political messaging through the use of reconfigured attributes. Graeco-Bactrian rulers were able to express royal legitimacy by adopting familiar Hellenistic traits, such as the royal diadem, clean-shaven face, and divine motifs. They were further able to articulate dynastic distinction through the reconfiguration of already established Hellenistic conventions, and presented their authority as both inherently martial and divinely sanctioned by introducing personal epithets and military headgear. This thesis argues that Bactrian coin portraits should not be viewed merely as imitations of earlier, Hellenistic issues but as dynamic expressions of localized identity paired creatively with the visual language of Hellenistic kingship.}},
  author       = {{Athanasiadis, Anastasios}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Faces Beyond the Thousand Cities: Negotiating Power Through Graeco‑Bactrian Numismatic Portraiture}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}