A Nymph and her Ball: Larissa Drives the Lane

I was drawn to this little obol of Larissa mainly because of the charming reverse scene, showing the city's eponymous nymph bouncing a ball in a carefree moment. As it turns out, the scene may actually have a little story of its own to tell, albeit a somewhat unfortunate one...

According to one tradition, Larissa was the daughter of Pelasgus, primordial king of the Pelasgians, who while playing with her ball along the banks of the river Peneios, slipped, fell into the river, and drowned.

The most well-known coins of Larissa are the 4th century drachms with her facing head on the obverse, inspired in style by the Syracusan tetradrachms of Kimon. Less ubiquitous are a series of obols that have her carrying a hydria and with a lion's head fountain behind her, indicating that she was venerated at the city as a fountain nymph. I know some of you guys have examples of these, so please show 'em. And of course, please feel free to post any other coins of Larissa as well!


THESSALY, Larissa
AR Obol. 0.95g, 11.4mm. THESSALY, Larissa, circa 440-400 BC. BCD I -; BCD II -; CNG EAuction 292, 5 December 2012, 38 (same obverse die?); cf. BMC 24. O: Horse to right; above, crescent to right; below, dolphin to right. R: Λ - A, the nymph Larissa striding left, bouncing a ball off the ground with her right hand; all within shallow incuse square.

Note: The second part of the subject I used for this thread is copped from this CNG auction lot. Let it not be said that auction house cataloguers have no sense of humour .

 

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No coins of Larissa here, but I think everyone reading this thread should be listening to this:

 

Perfect, thanks! I'll just consider this my coin's theme song from now on .

 

Dagnabbit, Z! Stop finding coins I haven't seen that now I must buy!

This is a refreshing departure from the ubiquitous pugilistic front-facing Larissas.

 

I will if you will too! Uhm, on second thought, nah, it's more fun this way .

 

My only 'Larissa' is the type TIF described

Wonderful coin @zumbly and it definitely is 'refreshingly different'.....

 

Nice Larissa coin, you guys and girls keep posting coins I've never seen before. Its like an art gallery, except this one eventually hurts my wallet.

 

Nice coin. I would love to have a Larissa coin. I purchased one as a gift for my niece who is named Larissa, but I have none in my collection now. This should be rectified!

 

It's the only sensible thing to do!

 

I'm glad you agree. It is sensible, isn't it?

 

But it's good for your health...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...s-good-for-your-physical-health-italian-expe/

 

Nice capture @zumbly, that coin is missing from my Thessaly collection, I am jealous! And the dolphin below the horse adds to the charm of your coin.

I have two trihemiobols of the Nymph Larissa, one with her holding a patera, and the second with her holding a mirror.


Thessaly, Larissa 460-400 BC
AR trihemiobol 1.1gm - 13 mm
Obv: Horseman pacing right, holding two spears
Rev: ΛΑΡΙΣΑ Nymph Larissa seated right, holding patera, left hand raised; all within incuse square


Thessaly, Larissa 400 BC
AR trihemiobol 1.5gm - 13 mm
Obv: Horseman, holding two spears, riding left
Rev: Nymph Larissa seated left, holding mirror, right hand raised; all within incuse square.

 

Very cool coin. So that's it for the legend? She was playing with her ball and fell into the river and died? No reincarnation as a swan or anything? As legends go, I find it oddly minimalistic.

 

surf and turf double animal obverse, nymph driving to the hoop reverse...WIN!

i'll post this thing again, not from larissa, but it's my current favorite nymph coin. she is wresting/hugging a snake? this is a common theme on coins form the area, so there must be a story here....but i don't know what it is.




Pisidia, Etenna. 1st century AD.

Obv.: Nymph grappling with snake, amphora in left field. Rev.: E-T, sickle-shaped knife. 19 mm, 3.5 g. Hans von Aulock, Pisidiens, 522

 

Ikr. I mean where is Poseidon when you need him.

 

Probably off with some other nymph. Which reminds me, I came across this instructive pie chart the other day...

 

I have a bad habit of purchasing TWO coins when that situation comes up! My wife wanted a Cleopatra...got her one, then I WANTED one also... double jeopardy! Have done this a few times... $$$

 

Nope...just fish food...

 

LOL, fantastic graph!

 

Well, I did say it was a "little story" ... I guess many city nymphs were given short shrift by mythographers. They were kind of a dime a dozen afterall. If there ever was a more extensive legend about Larissa or a Ino-Leucothea type transformation story, it doesn't appear to have survived.