The two eyes of the Earth : art and ritual of kingship between Rome and Sasanian Iran /
Art and ritual of kingship between Rome and Sasanian Iran
Matthew P. Canepa.
- Berkeley : University of California Press, c2009.
- xx, 425 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.
- Transformation of the classical heritage ; 45 .
- Transformation of the classical heritage 45. Joan Palevsky imprint in classical literature .
Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral)--University of Chicago, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 337-400) and index.
Introduction -- The art and ritual of kingship within and between Rome and Sasanian Iran -- The lure of the other and the limits of the past -- Sapur I, king of kings of Iran and non-Iran -- Rome's troubled third century and the emergence of a new equilibrium -- Contested images of sacral kingship and new expressions of triumph -- Unceasing embassies -- City as stage and art as statecraft -- The late antique Kosmos of power -- Epilogue: the legacy of the two eyes of the earth.
"This pioneering study examines a pivotal period in the history of Europe and the Near East. Spanning the ancient and medieval worlds, it investigates the shared ideal of sacred kingship that emerged in the late Roman and Persian empires. Bridging the traditional divide between classical and Iranian history, this book brings to life the dazzling courts of two global powers that deeply affected the cultures of medieval Europe, Byzantium, Islam, South Asia, and China."--Back cover.
Monarchy--Social aspects--Rome. Monarchy--Social aspects--Iran. Rites and ceremonies--Rome Rites and ceremonies--Iran. Romans--Social life and customs. Sassanids--Social life and customs.
Rome--Relations--Iran. Iran--Relations--Rome. Rome--Kings and rulers Iran--Kings and rulers