Other states and Hellenistic influences Hellenistic period

greco-scythian golden comb, solokha, 4th century, hermitage museum

hellenistic culture @ height of world influence in hellenistic period. hellenism or @ least philhellenism reached regions on frontiers of hellenistic kingdoms. though of these regions not ruled greeks or greek speaking elites, hellenistic influences can seen in historical record , material culture of these regions. other regions had established contact greek colonies before period, , saw continued process of hellenization , intermixing.

before hellenistic period, greek colonies had been established on coast of crimean , taman peninsulas. bosporan kingdom multi-ethnic kingdom of greek city states , local tribal peoples such maeotians, thracians, crimean scythians , cimmerians under spartocid dynasty (438–110 bc). spartocids hellenized thracian family panticapaeum. bosporans had long lasting trade contacts scythian peoples of pontic-caspian steppe, , hellenistic influence can seen in scythian settlements of crimea, such in scythian neapolis. scythian pressure on bosporan kingdom under paerisades v led eventual vassalage under pontic king mithradates vi protection, c. 107 bc. later became roman client state. other scythians on steppes of central asia came contact hellenistic culture through greeks of bactria. many scythian elites purchased greek products , scythian art shows greek influences. @ least scythians seem have become hellenized, because know of conflicts between elites of scythian kingdom on adoption of greek ways. these hellenized scythians known young scythians . peoples around pontic olbia, known callipidae, intermixed , hellenized greco-scythians.

statuette of nike, greek goddess of victory, vani, georgia (country)

the greek colonies on west coast of black sea, such istros, tomi , callatis traded thracian getae occupied modern-day dobruja. 6th century bc on, multiethnic people in region gradually intermixed each other, creating greco-getic populace. numismatic evidence shows hellenic influence penetrated further inland. getae in wallachia , moldavia coined getic tetradrachms, getic imitations of macedonian coinage.

the ancient georgian kingdoms had trade relations greek city-states on black sea coast such poti , sukhumi. kingdom of colchis, later became roman client state, received hellenistic influences black sea greek colonies.

in arabia, bahrain, referred greeks tylos, centre of pearl trading, when nearchus came discover serving under alexander great. greek admiral nearchus believed have been first of alexander s commanders visit these islands. not known whether bahrain part of seleucid empire, although archaeological site @ qalat al bahrain has been proposed seleucid base in persian gulf. alexander had planned settle eastern shores of persian gulf greek colonists, , although not clear happened on scale envisaged, tylos part of hellenised world: language of upper classes greek (although aramaic in everyday use), while zeus worshipped in form of arabian sun-god shams. tylos became site of greek athletic contests.

carthaginian hoplite (sacred band, end of 4th century bc)

carthage phoenician colony on coast of tunisia. carthaginian culture came contact greeks through punic colonies in sicily , through widespread mediterranean trade network. while carthaginians retained punic culture , language, did adopt hellenistic ways, 1 of prominent of military practices. in 550 bc, mago of carthage began series of military reforms included copying army of timoleon, tyrant of syracuse. core of carthage s military greek-style phalanx formed citizen hoplite spearmen had been conscripted service, though armies included large numbers of mercenaries. after defeat in first punic war, carthage hired spartan mercenary captain, xanthippus of carthage, reform military forces. xanthippus reformed carthaginian military along macedonian army lines.

by 2nd century bc, kingdom of numidia began see hellenistic culture influence art , architecture. numidian royal monument @ chemtou 1 example of numidian hellenized architecture. reliefs on monument show numidians had adopted greco-macedonian type armor , shields soldiers.

ptolemaic egypt center of hellenistic influence in africa , greek colonies thrived in region of cyrene, libya. kingdom of meroë in constant contact ptolemaic egypt , hellenistic influences can seen in art , archaeology. there temple serapis, greco-egyptian god.