This coin from Lydia illustrates a fun but lesser-known episode involving the Greek hero Heracles. As punishment for a violent outburst and a temper tantrum at the Oracle of Delphi, Heracles was forced to serve as a slave for a year to Omphale, the mythical queen of Lydia. Omphale had a good sense of humor, and enjoyed humiliating Heracles throughout the year. On the reverse of this coin, Omphale is shown with two of Heracles' prize possessions: she is holding his club and wearing the skin of the Nemean lion. Lydia, Maeonia. Pseudo-autonomous issue. AE Hemiassarion (18 mm, 2.92 g), time of Trajan, 98-117 AD. Head of Herakles to left. Rev. [MAIO]NΩN, Omphale standing right, wearing Herakles' lion skin and holding his club. RPC IV.2 online 1325. Omphale is featured often on the coinage of Lydia, in no small part because she famously controlled the great Heracles (who she later married). This myth is a fun one, because it takes Heracles, the ultimate symbol of masculinity, and gives him a very suitable punishment: a reversal of gender roles. According to most versions of the myth, during his year of servitude, Omphale forced Heracles to perform women's chores and made him wear only women's clothing every day (which would have made for a GREAT coin reverse). For example, in the marble sculpture below, Omphale is shown holding the club of Hercules (the Roman equivalent of Heracles) and wearing his lion skin headdress. Hercules is wearing a woman's tunic, holding a bundle of wool, and looking much more dainty and skinny than usual. (From the National Archeology Museum of Naples). I'm very happy to have this nice little addition to my collection. Please post your coins of Omphale, coins from Lydia, your favorite Heracles/Hercules, or anything else relevant.
Interesting read, very nice coin! Thank you for showing. I know of the episode, but I didn't know there was a coin that depicted it. Now you made me want to get one... My one and only coin from Lydia: Lydia, Sardeis. Kroisos, 561-546 BC. Siglos, 5.04 gr. 17mm. And a minuscule Herakles just because I like countermarks: 15,5mm, 3,75 gr. Unknown host coin. Obv: (Hermes/ Mercurius?) Rev: c/m Herakles.
That’s a great siglos, @Ignoramus Maximus! I also really like that little Herakles countermark, thanks for sharing.
Is that not a great story? I picked this one up for the same reason. Different legend placement. GRPC Lydia 27.
Awesome coin and story! I had not heard about the effeminate Hercules. Here's my favorite manly Hercules. Thrace, Bizya. Marcus Aurelius AE25.
Nice coin, @Shea19 ! Clean, lotsa detail, crisp looking coin... I like it a lot! LOL, the "NUN" on reverse made me think that Herakles was punished, and was banished to be a NUN! Here is a cool Herakles I captured from @Severus Alexander 's first Auction, just cuz I liked the denomination! APULIA Luceria 211-200 BCE AE Quadrunx 9.7g 24mm Hd Herakles R lion skin headdress 4 pellets behind - LOVCERI Quiver club bow SNG Cop 660 Here is one of Pyrrhus in Syracuse... Syracuse Sicily Pyrrhus 278-275 BCE AE 24mm 9.2g Herakles Hd - Athena Promachos SG1213 LE584 Left Even the Frentani, cousins of the Samnites, liked Herakles. Frentani - Larinum AE 18mm Quadrans 210-175 BCE Herakles - Centaur SNG COP 272 And those Mercenaries fighting against Carthage even invoked Herakles for some help... Truceless War against Carthage LIBYAN UPRISING Mercenary War 241-238 BCE 7.36g AR DiShekel Herakles Head in Lion's Head- Lion walking R SNG Cop 240f
That’s a beautiful example @Edessa, I really like that reverse style. The reverse on mine is struck a little off center, so I’m missing part of the reverse legend. @Alegandron , I LOVE that Libyan Uprising dishekel, incredible coin!
It is an overstrike of a Carthage coin. Herakles’ nose is striated due to the underlying coin being of Tanit’s wreathed grain crown. Personally, it is one of my favorite coins...
Terrific coin @Shea19 ! Here's something I picked up recently...a follis of Maximinus II with Hercules leaning on his club with the hide of the Nemean lion draped over it
Thanks @Shea19 !! The detail of the reverse, as you mentioned, combined with the extensive slivering pushed me to place a last minute bid. I’m excited to have it in hand!
