Beyond Alexandria by Margrete Sija Visscher, Hardcover | Indigo Chapters

Beyond Alexandria aims to provide a better understanding of Seleucid literature, covering the period from Seleucus I to Antiochus III. Despite the historical importance of the Seleucid Empire during this period, little attention has been devoted to its literature. The works of authorsaffiliated with the Seleucid court have tended to be overshadowed by works coming out of Alexandria, emerging from the court of the Ptolemies, the main rivals of the Seleucids. This book makes two key points, both of which challenge the idea that "Alexandrian" literature is coterminous withHellenistic literature as a whole. First, the book sets out to demonstrate that a distinctly Seleucid strand of writing emerged from the Seleucid court, characterised by shared perspectives and thematic concerns. Second, Beyond Alexandria explores how Seleucid literature was significant on the wider Hellenistic stage. Specifically, it shows that the works of Seleucid authors influenced and provided counterpoints to writers based in Alexandria, including key figures such as Eratosthenes and Callimachus. For this reason, the literature of the Seleucids is not only interesting in its own right; it also provides an important entrypoint for furthering our understanding of Hellenistic literature in general. | Beyond Alexandria by Margrete Sija Visscher, Hardcover | Indigo Chapters