Seleuco e Babilonia: un incontro fatale

The relationship between Seleukos and Babylon can be understood by analyzing the evidence related to the beginning of Seleukos’ role in the region after the death of Alexander the Great: comparing Greek literary sources and Babylonian documentary sources, we can find in this evidence a fundamental paradigm for the subsequent periods. The classical sources describe the actions of the Successors in Babylon from the point of view of the Macedonian conquerors, who did not hesitate to authorize the plunder of the territory, without any concern for the local population, when they thought that this was consistent with their strategy. The Babylonian documentary sources, however, read (and judge) the deeds of the Successors only in relation to changes that they introduced in the living conditions of the inhabitants of the area: they were totally uninterested in international issues, which connected the fate of Babylon with the rest of Alexander’s empire. In this perspective, Seleukos’ behavior, respectful of the local traditions, allows him to stabilize his leading role in Mesopotamia.