Romanisering in Antiochië. Samensmeltende Culturen in  Romeins Syria

From the first till the third century AD Antioch on the Orontes was one of the main cities of the Roman Empire. Before the rise of Constantinople Antioch and Alexandria were the main administrative and urban centres in the east of the empire. Antioch was founded by Seleukos I around 300 BC as a Greek city. Antioch became a part of the Roman Empire in 64 BC when the Roman province Syria was annexed. The local elite could hold on to most of their former power and the city was allowed to rule the region almost autonomously. In the following centuries the appearance of the city started to change. Because of the Roman characteristics in the buildings the city has been called Romanized. Local administration, language and myths on the other hand remained Greek. Important to notice is the difference in grounds which the Romans and Greeks used to define their cultures. In the Roman world appearance and architecture were important, while the Greek world was based on Greek language and descent...Show moreFrom the first till the third century AD Antioch on the Orontes was one of the main cities of the Roman Empire. Before the rise of Constantinople Antioch and Alexandria were the main administrative and urban centres in the east of the empire. Antioch was founded by Seleukos I around 300 BC as a Greek city. Antioch became a part of the Roman Empire in 64 BC when the Roman province Syria was annexed. The local elite could hold on to most of their former power and the city was allowed to rule the region almost autonomously. In the following centuries the appearance of the city started to change. Because of the Roman characteristics in the buildings the city has been called Romanized. Local administration, language and myths on the other hand remained Greek. Important to notice is the difference in grounds which the Romans and Greeks used to define their cultures. In the Roman world appearance and architecture were important, while the Greek world was based on Greek language and descent. It was therefore possible for the inhabitants of the Greek East to keep their own culture even when the appearance of the city became more Roman. Libanius, a writer from Antioch in the fourth century, still focused on the ‘Greekness’ of the city. The Roman rulers had replaced the Seleucid administration but didn’t make the population of Antioch feel oppressed. In the centuries following the Roman annexation the city became a Graeco-Roman city in lay-out and architecture. The surrounding Syrian region also influenced the culture in Antioch. A new culture developed in the second and third century AD combining Roman, Greek and Syrian elements. The combination of Greek, Roman and local influences was characteristic for the newly developing culture in all the eastern Roman provinces. It is therefore impossible to describe these cultures as Romanized. The Roman presence did influence the culture in Antioch, but not simply by dominating the Greek or local elements.Show less

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Romanisering in Antiochië. Samensmeltende Culturen in Romeins Syria