ЦЕРЕМОНИАЛ ПРОСКИНЕСИСА ПРИ ДВОРЕ АЛЕКСАНДРА ВЕЛИКОГО
THE CEREMONY OF PROSKYNESIS AT THE COURT OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents an attempt to characterize the main idea and features of the Persian ritual of proskynesis in the ceremonial aspect. It follows from the studied material that proskynesis, which was carried out both towards the Achaemenid kings and subsequently towards Alexander the Great, indicated high status of the governor according to the traditional hierarchy of Persian society. It is revealed that adoption of this ceremony involved several stages. After an unsuccessful attempt to introduce proskynesis among the Macedonians, the ritual was practiced solely in the society of eastern subjects. It is concluded that the Persians while performing this ceremony before Alexander the Great admitted his superior status in the Persian hierarchical system. Thus, he in fact became the rightful king of Persia.

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