The Hellenistic Gulf: Greek Naval Presence in the Persian Gulf and Southern Mesopotamia during the Hellenistic Period

Given in Greek, this lecture by Andreas Parpas presents his book on Macedonian and Seleucid naval and colonial power in the Persian Gulf and southern Mesopotamia. Parpas first outlines the commercial geography of the Gulf, which linked trade from India, China, and Arabia to Mesopotamia through five hubs: the Strait of Hormuz, Gerrha and Bahrain, Alexandria on the Tigris, Seleucia on the Eulaeus (Susa), and Seleucia on the Tigris.

The first section examines Alexander the Great's naval strategy. Parpas argues that Alexander sought to link the Mediterranean to the Gulf along the Tigris and Euphrates. Alexander built a harbour at Babylon, brought Phoenician ships overland to join Nearchus's fleet from India, established a river fleet to police the canals, founded Alexandria on the Tigris, and sent expeditions into the Gulf under Nearchus, Archias, Androsthenes, and Hieron of Soli. Parpas also notes that the fourth-century BC coastline lay 150 to 200 kilometres further inland around the Chaldean Lake.

The second section traces how the Seleucids continued this policy, using the anchor as a dynastic symbol of naval power and founding colonies and naval bases. Following the return route of Antiochus III from his eastern campaign, Parpas surveys archaeological and epigraphic evidence from Antioch in Persis, Gerrha, Tylos (Bahrain), and Ikaros (Failaka Island in Kuwait), including Greek inscriptions naming Kephisodoros and Soteles, fortifications, temples, and local imitations of Alexander tetradrachms. He also presents recent work at Alexandria on the Tigris (Charax Spasinou) and Rhodian amphora stamps and coin mints at Mleiha and Ed-Dur in the United Arab Emirates, before comparing Macedonian administration with British and American interventions in modern Iraq. A twenty-minute discussion follows on Failaka, local elites and sanctuaries such as Esagila, and trade competition with the Ptolemies.