A THREAT TO GREECE

In the early third century BC, the Hellenistic states of Greece clashed with an incoming Celtic migration, providing a propaganda opportunity for the various kings and leagues to present themselves as the saviours of the Greeks.

Owain Williams

THEME: Hellenistic diplomacy THEME CELTS AND HELLENISTIC PROPAGANDA For the Classical period, the Persians were an ever-present threat to the Hellenic world, invading mainland Greece in the early fifth century BC and then financing Greek poleis to fight amongst themselves. However, after the conquests of Alexander the Great, the Greco-Macedonian successor kingdoms had replaced the Persians as the dominant powers in the eastern Mediterranean. Yet a new threat soon arrived from the north, as tens of thousands of Celts marched south through Thrace and into Macedonia. The new Macedonian king, Ptolemy Ceraunus, marched out to meet the Celts with a small force and was massacred, leaving Macedonia to be fought over by several pretenders for the throne (Diodorus, 22.3–4), and Greece open to the Celts. Led by Brennus, the Celts moved…

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Ancient History (Digital) - 1 Issue, AH 49

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