Time and Its Adversaries in the Seleucid Empire

The Seleucid Empire introduced a linear conception of time in 305 BCE, which changed how people did business, recorded events, and oriented themselves to the larger world. This new temporality had far-reaching political and religious consequences, transforming the way we organize our thoughts about the past, present, and future. Paul Kosmin's book "The Seleucid Empire and the Creation of a New Time" sheds new light on the meaning of time, memory, and identity in a multicultural setting.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 25 March 2022
Publisher: Harvard University Press

The Seleucid Empire, following the conquests of Alexander the Great, established a revolutionary system of chronology in 305 BCE. Instead of resetting the count with each new monarch, the Seleucid kings introduced a linear conception of time, where years were numbered progressively. This marked a significant departure from the traditional practice of starting a new count each time a new ruler ascended to the throne. This new temporality, which became the de facto measure of historical duration throughout the empire, had profound implications for society. It altered the way people conducted business, recorded events, and oriented themselves to the broader world.
However, not all subjects embraced this new system. Some rebellious factions rejected the linear conception of time and sought to revive their pre-Hellenic past. They created apocalyptic time frames, predicting the total end of history. In his comprehensive work, Paul Kosmin delves into the invention of a new kind of time by the Seleucid Empire and the rebellions against this worldview. He meticulously investigates the traces of this system that appear in late antiquity, providing valuable insights into its impact on the ancient Mediterranean world.
Kosmin's study is a magisterial contribution to the understanding of this hitherto obscure but clearly important restructuring of time. His work sheds light on the political and religious consequences of the Seleucid Empire's innovation, shaping the way we organize our thoughts about the past, present, and future. The Seleucid Empire's adoption of a linear conception of time marked a significant milestone in the development of human temporal consciousness, and its legacy continues to be felt today.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674271227