The Seleucid Dynasty

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The Tetradrachm of Seleucus I was produced during the Seleucid Dynasty, which was a civilization that was prominent during the Hellenistic Age. The Seleucid Dynasty was formed as a result of the fall of Alexander the Great’s Empire. When Alexander’s empire fell, the territory was divided between his generals. One of these generals, Seleucus Nicator, inherited the eastern provinces. The land that he received included present day Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon, as well as sections of Turkey, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Seleucus ruled these lands, and he established the Seleucid Dynasty. He founded two capitals, Antioch and Seleucia, which both became flourishing cultural centers that were heavily influenced …show more content…
Many effects of the spread of Greek culture are clearly displayed in art during the Seleucid Dynasty. Almost all of the art in the Seleucid Dynasty has some kind of Hellenized-Greek influence. Portraits and sculptures of people were done in the idealized form; a form of human portrayal that is very unique to ancient Greek art and culture. An example of this can be found on coins in the Seleucid Dynasty. On one side of a coin was Seleucus I, sculpted in idealistic form, and in the likeness of Alexander the Great of Macedonia. Coins were important in the Seleucid Dynasty and the Hellenistic time period due to the ease of facilitating trade by using coins. As well as using coins for functional purposes, Seleucid coins were an expression of the culture and styles of art. Coins in the Seleucid Dynasty usually had the king of the current time on one side. On the other side, there was a deity, most commonly Nike, or an elephant. Elephants were used as a symbol for the Seleucid …show more content…
The spread of Greek culture and ideas had a noticeable impact on the Seleucid Dynasty when looking at this dynasty’s art. One specific example of the tremendous impact of hellenistic ideas can be found in the Tetradrachm of Seleucus I. Seleucus I is depicted on one side of the coin in an hellenized-idealistic form. On the other side of the coin is an image of Nike, a Greek goddess. Both sides of this coin have visible Greek influences. The Tetradrachm of Seleucus I is not only a tremendous technical and political achievement, but it is also highly detailed and can be called one of the catalysts of successful trade and growth in the Seleucid
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