Books by Simon Glenn
The history of Hellenistic Bactria (northern Afghanistan, and areas of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan)... more The history of Hellenistic Bactria (northern Afghanistan, and areas of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) is particularly obscure and its reconstruction contentious. Unlike other Hellenistic kingdoms very little evidence survives from literary sources and inscriptions; the best primary source is the large quantity of coinage issued under the Graeco-Bactrian kings who ruled the area from the third century to the mid-second century BC. With limited details of the find spots of the coins and only a few published hoards, their use has often been limited to a superficial analysis of their iconography. Royal Coinage in Hellenistic Bactria will present the results of a die study,
an approach to studying the coins that can give many insights into the way they were produced. The coins of six kings (Euthydemus I, Demetrius I, Euthydemus II, Pantaleon, Agathocles, and Antimachus I) are included. Different mints and rhythms of production can be identified, and the overall size of the coinages estimated. Using a thorough understanding and suggested reconstruction of the production of these coins, this book will propose a new, soundly-based history of the Graeco-Bactrian kingdom under these kings.
Conference proceedings by Simon Glenn
Coinage is the only form of evidence to survive from Alexander's lifetime in large quantities. It... more Coinage is the only form of evidence to survive from Alexander's lifetime in large quantities. It has much to tell us about the nature of his empire. And it has also had a profound in uence on the reception of Alexander as a political and economic actor in more modern times. Yet that evidence is fragile and its transnational nature means that it is not assured the protection a forded to archaeological heritage that is more easily seen as national. This book explores how new developments in the world of Linked Open Data can help to draw together this huge resource, and exploit it to understand not just Alexander and his Empire, but also our communal heritage.
Papers by Simon Glenn
Revue Numismatique, 2024
This article presents the results of a programme of chemical composition analysis carried out usi... more This article presents the results of a programme of chemical composition analysis carried out using LA-ICP-MS on the collection of Hellenistic gold coins minted in Bactria and held at the BnF. It considers the authenticity of some of the unique coins analysed (including the Eukratideion). The Hellenistic coinage of Bactria (Seleucid and Graeco-Bactrian) is the only coinage we are certain was struck in that region in antiquity and the article provides a characterisation of the signature of a “Bactrian” metal stock and discusses its appearance in other coinages and metal objects elsewhere in the ancient world.
R. Mairs (ed), The Graeco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek World, 2021
Articles by Simon Glenn
Numismatic Chronicle, 2022
American Numismatic Society Magazine, 2020
Numismatic Chronicle 174, 45-59, 2014
The Heliocles and Laodice coins, usually attributed to Eucratides I, are unusual, although not un... more The Heliocles and Laodice coins, usually attributed to Eucratides I, are unusual, although not unique, among the issues of the Graeco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kings for their depiction of two figures in jugate busts. They have traditionally been accepted as a ‘pedigree’ series of coins produced by Eucratides, who appears on the other side, to commemorate his parents. However their obverse has usually been misidentified as the reverse and vice versa. When they are correctly identified, their role in historical reconstruction should be reconsidered and the coins attributed to Heliocles and Laodice rather than Eucratides.
This bibliography is intended to complement Rachel Mairs’ The Archaeology of the Hellenistic Far ... more This bibliography is intended to complement Rachel Mairs’ The Archaeology of the Hellenistic Far East: A Survey (available on this site and at bactria.org). It is hoped that the current work will be of similar use in gathering material concerning the coins of the Hellenistic Far East together in a single place. Readers are asked to submit corrigenda or details of new publications to [email protected] or as a message through Academia.
Alexander the Great. A Linked Open World, 2018
The illegal trade and destruction of Syrian antiquities has been attested since at least 1970 and... more The illegal trade and destruction of Syrian antiquities has been attested since at least 1970 and reached catastrophic proportions from 2010 onwards because of several wars in the region, as well as the actions of organisations such as al-Qaeda and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Many architectural and sculptural remains have been destroyed for propaganda purposes, destruction that has received the desired coverage in the media. There are also many specialist articles and books written by archaeologists and historians, focused on creating a record of the lost remains 2 , many using satellite images as a way of studying destruction and looting 3 , and others that attempt to estimate the damage caused 4. More generally articles about the illegal trade in antiquities, including coins, are gathered together on websites such as: traffickingculture.org and savingantiquities.org. There is, therefore, much literature on the phenomenon of destruction and looting of archaeological remains in the region. Unfortunately, sources for studying looting in Syria itself are sparse, and, with the few exceptions mentioned above, coins are not discussed alongside other stolen archaeological artefacts. Only an article by Ute Wartenberg Kagan and a chapter in Wealth and Warfare by Frédérique Duyrat, both recently published, deal with coins from the region specifically 5. The evidence suggests that not only have large remains and archaeological sites been destroyed, but smaller artefacts have been used in a more pragmatic way as a source of income.
Book Reviews by Simon Glenn
Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society
Conference Presentations by Simon Glenn
Talks by Simon Glenn
This paper discussed the results of a die study of the silver coinage of the Bactrian king Eucrat... more This paper discussed the results of a die study of the silver coinage of the Bactrian king Eucratides I, and considered how they can be used in our attempts at reconstructing the history of the Graeco-Bactrian kingdom. Some of the findings are published above in 'Heliocles and Laodice of Bactria: a reconsideration'.
This paper was a preliminary presentation of the results of my die study of the silver coinage of... more This paper was a preliminary presentation of the results of my die study of the silver coinage of Eucratides. It has now been superseded.
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Books by Simon Glenn
an approach to studying the coins that can give many insights into the way they were produced. The coins of six kings (Euthydemus I, Demetrius I, Euthydemus II, Pantaleon, Agathocles, and Antimachus I) are included. Different mints and rhythms of production can be identified, and the overall size of the coinages estimated. Using a thorough understanding and suggested reconstruction of the production of these coins, this book will propose a new, soundly-based history of the Graeco-Bactrian kingdom under these kings.
Conference proceedings by Simon Glenn
Papers by Simon Glenn
Articles by Simon Glenn
Book Reviews by Simon Glenn
Conference Presentations by Simon Glenn
Talks by Simon Glenn
an approach to studying the coins that can give many insights into the way they were produced. The coins of six kings (Euthydemus I, Demetrius I, Euthydemus II, Pantaleon, Agathocles, and Antimachus I) are included. Different mints and rhythms of production can be identified, and the overall size of the coinages estimated. Using a thorough understanding and suggested reconstruction of the production of these coins, this book will propose a new, soundly-based history of the Graeco-Bactrian kingdom under these kings.