OCR GCSE Ancient History · J198
Paper 1
A ritual of obeisance or respectful salutation before a ruler. At the Persian court it acknowledged royal status; Greeks associated comparable submission with honours reserved for gods.
Revise: Alexander's Character, Beliefs and Persian CustomsThe sharpest controversy concerned proskynesis, a Persian court ritual of respectful submission before the ruler. For Persians, it belonged to established royal ceremonial. Greeks associated comparable gestures of submission with honours owed to gods rather than ordinary human beings.
- Revise: Alexander's Relationships with his Companions
- Revise: Motives and Evolving Aims of the Expedition
A Persian court practice of showing respect through gestures such as bowing or prostration, according to rank. Greeks and Macedonians associated such obeisance with worship of gods.
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- Revise: Alexander’s Relationship with his Army
A ritual of obeisance before a ruler. Some Greeks and Macedonians opposed its use before Alexander because they associated such honours with gods rather than human beings.