Was royal cult in the Seleukid empire an empire-wide phenomenon, Essay

Was royal cult in the Seleukid empire an empire-wide phenomenon, directed from above, or did it belong mostly in the world of the Greek cities - Essay Example (White, 2008; Pp 156 – 159) In any empire that has been inherited from the clutches of a great ruler such as Alexander the Great, there is always a need to ensure that the royal cult is omnipresent in the way the land is ruled. In the case of the Seleukid Empire, the access to documents has been of central importance in studying the direction taken by the royal in directing the affairs of the state. This paper will place special focus on these documents as well as the rituals that demonstrate the extent of the direction provided by the royal cult of the Seleukid Empire. The paper will basically study whether the royal cult of the Seleukid Empire directed the state from above or was simply concentrated in the Greek cities. (White, 2008; Pp 156 – 159) The Eastern territories that include countries like India, Iran, Turkey and many more countries, hold special significance as far as the matters of the state and direction from the royal cult is concerned. The influence of this came from the fact that the citizens in these countries regarded the king as God sent. Therefore, his word was the last word. Influences of Indian and other languages can be seen in ancient Greek history as well as the history of the Seleukid Empire. This is also apparent in the rituals, coins, symbols adapted by kings and various other details that are useful in studying cultural influences. (White, 2008; Pp 156 – 159) The extent of participation of the royal cult in the Seleukid Empire can be studied through a focus on the military, economic and cultural factors to begin with. This will help in setting the stage for understanding the implications of the documents that carved the framework within which the Selukid Empire’s royal cult operated. To begin with, it is imperative to understand that the territory that was inherited by the Seleukid Dynasty was