'Ma can claim to have brought a sophistication to this material that advances our understanding; and gradually, with scholarly care, the seriously interesting potential of this bridesmaid of a period is revealed.'Simon Goldhill, TLSThis is an engrossing book to read, very dense, beautifully written and enormously rewarding for anyone interested in how language can shape power relations. Paola Ceccarelli, Universita dell'Aquila, Italy'Ma's discussions, while always starting from some specific document, are wide-ranging, full of insights and challenging.'Paola Ceccarelli, Universita dell'Aquila, Italy'Ma's choice of taking [this] language seriously, as a tool, as "the standard medium for communication between ruler and ruled, shaping communication and actions", and consequently of trying to see how it worked, is in my opinion one of the things which make his book so important and new.'Paola Ceccarelli, Universita dell'Aquila, Italy'A good overview of the history of the period (223-192 B.C.), taking into account the new epigraphical findings and recent research, has been lacking: this one is detailed, extremely well documented and well-balanced. Moreover, in the course of his narrative Ma manages to show in detail how history gets written and rewritten in the course of the interaction between local communities and a super-poleis power'Paola Ceccarelli, Universita dell'Aquila, Italy'Throughout the book - and this is what in my opinion makes its originality - the focus is sharply maintained on the ways in which power expresses itself through language and on the contrast between imperial and local versions of history.

'Paola Ceccarelli, Universita dell'Aquila, Italy'Ancient historians will welcome the appearance of this important and fascinating book, which will be of interest not only to students of Seleukid Asia Minor but also to everyone interested in Hellenistic history.'Paola Ceccarelli, Universita dell'Aquila, Italy'an absorbing and thought-provoking study, which will be essential reading for all serious students of the Hellenistic Near East.' G.R.G. Hambly, CHOICE Nov. 2000, Vol.38, No.

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