Kamarina was an ancient Greek colony in Sicily. The city was protected from invasion by a marsh which made a siege of the city almost impossible. However, in the late 5th Century the city began to be plagued by a mysterious illness. The people started to associate the illness with the marsh, and consulted the town oracle about draining it. The oracle told the city leaders not to drain the marsh, and that the plague would pass with time. But the city leaders ignored the Oracle and drained the marsh anyway. Soon, Carthagenians swooped on the city and sieged it with the aid of the newly drained marshland. They broke into the city and massacred every living inhabitant. The coin below was minted shortly before these events, so the people who held it might have been the victims of their politicians' hubris. I wonder what the last poor sucker who held this coin thought about his leaders as the Carthagenians prepared to strike him down? Probably what a lot of us think about our current lot of politicians, no matter which country we are in. SICILY. Kamarina. Æ Onkia, 13mm, 1.2g, 2h; c. 420-405 BC. Obverse: Facing gorgoneion. Rev.: KAMA; Owl standing right, head facing, holding lizard in talon; pellet (mark of value) in exergue. Reference: CNS 4; HGC 2, 552. Incidentally, this is my second gorgoneion as I do have one from the Black Sea area. Post any relevant coins
Nice new coin @Sallent. I saw that and was tempted, but too many irons in the fire. My one coin from there was minted at the same time as your new coin: SICILY, KAMARINA Æ Tetras OBV: Helmeted head of Athena left REV: KAMA, owl standing left, head facing, grasping lizard; three pellets in exergue Struck at Kamarina, Sicily, 420-405 BC 2.9g; 15.2 mm Calciati 33; BMC 40; SNG ANS 1229; SNG Cop 169
Very nice! I'm looking for a facing-gorgoneion owl & lizard Kamarina bronze to complete the mini-set of the main types: SICILY, Kamarina. 420-405 BCE. AE tetras, 3.34 gm. Large head of Athena left, wearing crested helmet with wings. Owl standing left, with lizard in talon; KAMA (retrograde) upward in right field; three dots in exergue. Westermark / Jenkins 198 (see FIG. Pl. 35 / 198.24), SNG ANS 1230 Calciati III no. 28/4 (dotted-border type). SICILY, Kamarina. 420-405 BCE. AE tetras, 3.11 gm. Head of Athena right, wearing winged Phrygian helmet; dotted border. KAMA (legend from top to bottom), with owl standing left, lizard in talons; three dots in exergue. Westermark / Jenkins 202, SNG ANS -., Calciati III No. 39. https://www.cointalk.com/threads/leapin-lizards-kamarina-tetras.267073/
Cool score. Like TIF, I'm also wanting one with a gorgoneion obverse. SICILY, Kamarina Rare (with owl spreading wings). AE Tetras. Circa 420-405 BC. 3.39g, 14.8mm. Westermark & Jenkins Period 3, 204; CNS 40; HGC 2, 550. O: Helmeted head of Athena left; olive spray to left. R: [K-A-]MA, Owl standing facing, wings spread, grasping lizard; three pellets (mark of value) in exergue. Ex Camerata Romeu Collection SICILY, Kamarina AR Litra. 0.66g, 11mm. Circa 461-440/35 BC. SNG Oxford 1689. O: Nike flying right; to lower right, swan standing right; all within olive wreath. R: K[AMA]RI Athena standing left, wearing aegis and holding spear in right hand; to right, shield.
Did I mention the coin is an Ex: @John Anthony ? I don't know how he keeps convincing me that I need all his coins, but I have my suspicion that John Anthony's identity is not what he claims to be. I have narrowed it down to two suspects. Sallent's list of suspects as to JA's real identity. Hypnotoad Kaa
wish i had a relevant coin. but that's an interesting story about the kamarina marsh and a neat little ne AE!
Very interesting story Salient. Wasn't even aware that the place existed before I read this. Great coins, too. This draining the swamp thing is a lesson from history that needs careful consideration. Swamps certainly have their detractors but, as this story shows, they can sometimes be the only thing that stands between civilisation and barbarism. The moral of the story? Though something may smell bad and make you sick, it may also be your friend. Don't underrate your swamp!
I have a few from Kamarina Funky-Town: Sicily Kamarina AE 15mm 3.4g 420-405 BCE Athena Owl Lizard 3 dots Sear Gk 1063 SICILY Kamarina Æ Onkia 13mm 1.5g 420-405 BC Gorgon tongue - KAMA owl r lizard in claw pellet in ex SNG Münch 411 Sicily Kamarina AR litra 11mm 0.56g 461-440 BCE Nike flying swan below within wreath Athena spear shield SNG ANS 1212-6
Gorgons: Ionia Klazomenai 480-400 BC AR Drachm Pentobol 3.5g 13mm Forepart winged boar r gorgoneion incuse sq Cf SNG Copenhagen 12 Rare Etruria Populonia 3rd C BCE AR 20 As 8.1g Metus Blank HN 152
