Antiquity Studies

Series | Antiquity Studies
Edited book | Wine Cultures
Chapter | Wine, Women and Royalty in Gandhāra

Wine, Women and Royalty in Gandhāra

Abstract
Curtius Rufus (8.10.34‑36) narrates that when Alexander the Great had conquered the city of Massaga, which was the capital of the kingdom of the Assacenians, queen Cleophis presented herself to the conqueror with a retinue of noblewomen who libated wine from golden cups: in this way she managed to maintain her kingdom. Beyond the fictional episode that is analysed as a ‘cultural representation’, the paper investigates the plausibility of the ritual act that the text reports, i.e., the libation of wine through peculiar precious vessels (paterae or phialai – often inscribed), in the historical context of Greater Gandhāra and, more in general, in the ‘Indo-Iranian frontier’, in connection with royalty and the presence of women of rank. Research shows that the connection between these elements is functional to the ostentation of prestige by elites, and to the recognition of kingship: the possession and use of gold libation cups is a characteristic of sovereignty, a speaking symbol for both Indians and Greeks.


Open access

Submitted: May 15, 2024 | Accepted: June 3, 2024 | Published Oct. 8, 2024 | Language: en

Keywords Curtius RufusPateraeSwatQueen CleophisAlexander the GreatGreater GandhāraScythiansWine libationIndo-ScythiansPhialaiIndo-GreeksAssacenians


read this chapter