03/25 Sheila Ager (Waterloo): Hyde Lecture: Power and Precarity: Murdering Royal Women in the Hellenistic Age

The dynastic history of the new kingdoms that sprang up in the Mediterranean and the Near East in the wake of Alexander the Great’s death presents a picture of intrigue as convoluted, as bloody, and as emotionally appalling as anything seen in Game of Thrones. In spite of all the violence and mayhem of George Martin’s spectacular epic, the rate of intra-dynastic murder in Westeros and Essos actually pales next to the saga of the Hellenistic kingdoms. Particularly interesting is the high murder rate of royal women. This paper explores the phenomenon of murdering royal women in the Hellenistic era, addressing the possible reasons as well as the critical methodological issues.

 

Every spring, the Graduate Group in Ancient History at Penn hosts a week-long visit by a distinguished ancient historian, made possible by a gift by Walter Woodburn Hyde (1870-1966, Professor of Greek and Ancient History at Penn 1910-1940). During their stay, the Hyde Lecturers teach several graduate seminars, meet with graduate students individually and in smaller groups, and deliver the formal Hyde Lecture.  

Sheila Ager is Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Waterloo and Director of the Waterloo Institute for Hellenistic Studies. In her research, Professor Ager focuses on Greek history in the Classical and Hellenistic period. She has published widely on interstate relations and peaceful conflict resolution in the ancient world, the history and structure of dynastic rule, and the role of royal women in Hellenistic dynasties. Since 2019, she has served as Dean of Arts at the University of Waterloo. For more information on Professor Ager and her research, see here.