Thundering Zeus: The Making of Hellenistic Bactria (Volume 32)

Hellenistic Culture and Society

by Frank L. Holt

Thundering Zeus uses an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to resolve one of the greatest puzzles in all of Hellenistic history. This book explores the remarkable rise of a Greek-ruled kingdom in ancient Bactria (modern Afghanistan) during the third century B.C. Diodotus I and II, whose dynasty emblazoned its coins with the dynamic image of Thundering Zeus, led this historic movement by breaking free of the Seleucid Empire and building a strong independent state in Central Asia. The chronology and crises that defined their reigns have been established here for the first time, and Frank Holt sets this new history into the larger context of Hellenistic studies.

The best sources for understanding Hellenistic Bactria are archaeological, and they include a magnificent trove of coins. In addition to giving a history of Bactria, Thundering Zeus provides a catalog of these coins, as well as an introduction to the study of numismatics itself. Holt presents this fascinating material with the precision and acuity of a specialist and with the delight of an admirer, providing an up-to-date full catalog of known Diodotid coinage, and illustrating twenty-three coins.

This succinct, energetic narrative thunders across the history of Hellenistic Bactria, exhuming coins, kingdoms, and customs as it goes. The result is a book that is both a history and a history of discovery, with much to offer those interested in ancient texts, archaeology, and coins.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Archaeology, Greece, Ancient History

Hardcover

First published March 31, 1999

About the author

Frank Lee Holt is a Central Asian archaeologist and author. He is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Houston, and is recognized as one of the leading authorities on Alexander the Great, Hellenistic Asia, and numismatics. Holt received his PhD in History from the University of Virginia.

Holt has written five books and almost fifty articles, primarily concerning Alexander the Great and the Hellenization of Afghanistan.

Reviews

[Kosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great summary of what (little) is known about the ancient Greek kingdom of Bactria and Sogdia, mainly modern day Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and some surrounding territories

After heading up to what was once known as Sogdia and seeing a tree supposedly planted by Alexander himself, and having heard about exotic stories like Alexander's Sogdia wife Roxana, my curiosity was piqued in the ancient Greek history of the region. I looked around for a popular history of the topic but quickly found that there was no such thing, and that for any information deeper than a quick YouTube video, you have to get into the weeds of scholarship.

This book by a coin expert/numismatist makes the argument that coins are the most important evidence we have for piecing together the history of this elusive ancient kingdom, and he seems to be right; although bactrian was known in antiquity as the "land of the thousand cities", there is essentially one semi excavated city, some passing mentions in Roman era texts, and a couple of kilos worth of coins (the rest likely having been melted down in the intervening thousands of years).

Holt does a good job of explaining how and how much historical information can be extracted from these coin. While he's more wary to extrapolate than previous authors on the topic (who seem to have just guessed, making up relatives, wives, daughters, and historical rivalries based purely on pictures on coins!), He is nevertheless able to build a pretty impressive timeline and social history.

Non experts might find the chapters explaining the specifics of the numismatic evidence hard to get through, but the rest is a well written summary of current knowledge on the topic.

[Olivier Goossens · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this work Frank Holt sets the record straight by sticking to the facts. Too often has hellenistic Bactria been the playground of imaginative but far-fetched theories. Holt bases his research for the most part on the numismatic evidence and shows us that these coins have quite an important story to tell. His reasoning is solid and clear. If you are interested in hellenistic Bactria and the Diodotids in particular, this work is certainly a must. However, at times the argumentation can be complex since it concerns meticulous numismatic research. Do not expect a relaxing read with a warm cup of tea before bedtime. A fresh and attentive mind is advisable.

[AskHistorians]

A good introduction to Greek culture outside of its traditional homelands, and more specifically Greek cultures of the Hellenistic era. Well researched, and highly current.