Features of Seleucid Temple construction: Architecture in a political context

The article examines the features of temple architecture in the context of the religious policy of the early Seleucids. The study is based on archaeological and epigraphic materials, since the narrative information contains only some references to the policies of the first kings of the Seleucid dynasty. Seleucus I, the successor of Alexander the Great, as well as other diadochi, faced the question of strengthening his power. At the same time, the reign of Seleucus Nicator and his son Antiochus is one of the most stable in the history of the Seleucid empire. This was a consequence of the well-thought-out internal policy of the first kings. The research methods were both the traditional general philosophical methods of analysis and synthesis for this type of work, as well as the method of systematization of materials. The novelty of the work lies in the authors' attempt to consider one of the controversial issues on the implementation of the policy of "merging peoples" through the study of the features of temple architecture. Given the state of the source base, according to the authors, attention should be paid to the material evidence. They allow us to supplement existing knowledge about the internal politics of the first Seleucids. Using the example of architectural monuments, it can be argued that integration in the cultural and religious sphere did not just take place, but was a consequence of the purposeful policy of the early Seleucids. Accordingly, the rapprochement of peoples took place within the framework of a new integration model. The historical paradox lies in the fact that the early Seleucid construct turned out to be close to the prototype of Alexander the Great, which was negatively perceived during the reign of the famous conqueror and rejected after his death by the diadochi.

Hellenism, Seleucid empire, Seleucus I, Antiochus I, Babylonia, early Seleucids, Alexander the Great, temple construction, architecture, religious policy