Brilliant Scholarly
Arguments
Epicurus (341-270 BCE)
Philosophy
Happiness in Hellenistic Philosophy - Alexandria E. Wise
- This paper will focus on the differing paths that Epicureanism and Stoicism took towards attaining happiness, and what each of these paths said about the contemporary Hellenistic World.
Epicurus and Baroque Art: Emotions in the Hellenistic World - Kristen Syfert :)
-While some artwork produced during the Hellenistic period reflects the beliefs of the philosophical school of Epicurus, much of the artwork labeled “Hellenistic baroque” stands in contrast to a main belief of the Epicureans: the suppression of emotions.
Religion
Hellenism and the Jewish Afterlife - Katie Maguire
-Prior to the Hellenistic period the Jewish concept of the
afterlife had been drastically different from what it became during that time.
Through the Jewish apocalyptic literature written during that period, we
see the introduction of the concepts of the immortality of the soul, stellar
immortality, and resurrection after death.
It was the Greek influence of the Hellenistic age that gave impetus to
the emergence of the Jewish eschatological salvation.
The Jewish Diaspora in the Hellenistic Period Boris Milgrom
- By looking closer at the position of the Jews of Ptolemaic Egypt, their successes and struggles, we can gain a much better perspective on the status of the Jews in the Diaspora during the Hellenistic Period.
Jason & the Argonauts
Jason and the Argonauts: Through the Years - Mark Lieberman
-The story of Jason and the Argonauts was written by Apollonius of Rhodes in the third century BC. The myth has been depicted in a variety of ways over the years. This paper will first examine the classic myth and then note the different ways that the story has been told in books and films. There will also be an analysis of possible reasons for changing certain details in each of the versions.
Jason: Hero or Not? - Mike Kaplan
-Apollonius chose to tell the tale of Jason, not to show the heroic conquest of one man, but to praise the individual talents of the Argonauts.
Art & Warfare
Searching For Barbarians-
Adam Goodman
-While it is possible to distinguish Gauls in Greek sculpture, it is also
possible to recognize barbarians in general, and to recognize major similarities
in the way that barbarians are presented.
Athletics in Hellenistic Art - Scott Eggiman
-Our modern society holds athletes in very high regard. This reverence and admiration of athletes has its roots in ancient Greek society. The first Greek Olympians were the original sports heroes. The art of this time reflected the importance of sport and the high social standing of superior athletes as many of these figures were immortalized in marble.
Gods
Walking A Faint Line: Gods in Hellenistic Literature - Tessa Boyd
- In Hellenistic literature, the portrayal of gods, rulers and individuals demonstrate that the line between mortals and immortals was becoming increasingly permeable throughout Hellenistic society.
Ptolemaic Egypt: From Greeks to Gods- Travis Skowronski
The Ptolemaic kings controlled the Egyptian priests who in turn were allowed to continue to practice their religion. The Ptolemaic kings allowed the practice of the Egyptian religion because it wasn’t too far different from their own brand of polytheism. The use of the priests would also help aid them in communicating with the natives.
Women
Women’s Role in
Hellenistic Times
-Depending on location and time period, each lifestyle varies a little bit, but one thing remains constant; common women lived in the shadow of their husbands.
Arsione II - Influence and Images - Blythe Dawson
-Many powerful women existed during the Hellenistic age. All had different ways in acquiring and maintaining this control. One of the more recognizable of these women is Arsinoe II. Due to Arsinoe’s prominence during this period, her image and influence is found in many different aspects of the area, including everything from architecture and sculpture, to cults, to coinage.
Kings
Attalos and Alexander: A Comparison - James Agiesta
-Alexander the Great was a conqueror. During his reign, Alexander swept across the western world, extending the boundaries of his kingdom to distances never before imagined by many of the rulers that came before him. Well after Alexander’s death, Attalos I would be king in Pergamon. Attalos proved to be of sound military skill by leading his troops to various victories and extending the boundaries of his kingdom (Pollitt, 81.) This essay will examine the similarities between these two great rulers!