This fairly common 2nd century BC bronze coin of Smyrna was interesting to me because of its reverse subject - not a divine god, or legendary hero, but the contemplative seated figure of the poet Homer. Strabo, writing around the 1st century, recorded that Smyrna was one of the cities that laid claim to being Homer's birthplace, and celebrated the claim by issuing these bronze coins, which they named Homereum, after the poet. Far from being an odd choice, the supposed author of Iliad and Odyssey was a revered figure since at least the Hellenistic period. He was seen as the progenitor of Greek literary tradition, and the teacher to them of their myths, history and culture. Such was his stature that some 19 cities would later claim to be Homer's birthplace or residence. Ptolemy IV of Egypt dedicated a shrine to him in Alexandria in the 3rd century BC, and centuries later Emperor Hadrian, noted for getting his Greek geek on more than occasionally, was said to have asked the Oracle at Delphi who Homer really was. Whether Homer was a real person or a mythic figure is a question that has been debated since ancient times. These coins at least, are the real deal. Post your coins of Smyrna or that show Homer, yes, even if it's that other Homer . IONIA, Smyrna Circa 125 - 115 BC AE Homereum 10.05g, 21.4mm Phanokrates (magistrate). Milne, Autonomous 194a. O: Laureate head of Apollo right. R: ΣΜΥΡΝΑΙΩΝ, ΦΑΝΟΚΡΑ-ΤΗΣ, the poet Homer seated left, holding scroll. Additional notes: Apart from the bronze Homereia, Smyrna also issued some extremely rare silver drachms that feature Homer. He also appears on some scarce issues from Kolophon, another Ionian city. Amastris in Paphlagonia had some pseudo-autonomous bronze issues in the 2nd-3rd centuries AD with an obverse portrait of Homer. Homer was not the only literary figure to feature on ancient coins. There are issues of Priene that depict Bias (one of the Seven Sages of Greece), as well as a rare type from Thermae Himerenses in Sicily that show the great lyric poet Tisias.
Superb! Is there any evidence that the Smyrnians actually called these coins Homereia, or is that a modern invention?
It's apparently attested in Strabo's Geographica. On visiting Smyrna, Strabo noted the shrine there dedicated to Homer and their bronze coins which they named after him. These were struck for well over a century and were likely to still have been in circulation in Strabo's time.
Since, I just clicked 'LIKE' on all the complimentary posts, you know I absolutely LOVE it !!!! DRATS!!! Now I need a Homer too!!! I see you're anticipating Steve among others?? Now to see if I have a Homer-less Smyrna example left....
Wow Z-bro, that's the 2nd most impressive Homer coin that I've ever seen!! (congrats) ... yup, you guys guessed it!!
Ionia, Smyrna: AE Chalkous ca. 250 BC Diameter: 13.8mm Weight: 1.66 grams Obverse: Head of Tyche right Reverse: Krator surmounted by vessel containing fire, shrimp to left; [Z]MYP in left field; ΣYMMAXOς (magistrate Simmachos) in right field Reference: BMC Ionia p239, 15; SNG von Aulock 7968; Milne, Autonomous (1923), 29 => hey Z-bro, you bring the steaks and I'll toss some shrimp on the ol' BBQ!! Bing, you're in charge of booze and we'll get TIF and chrsmat to play their ol' Pink Floyd records!! ... looks like we're gonna have ourselves a Smyrna-burner, my friends!!
Nice one, Steve! Since this party is getting all fancy, I'll ask Aphrodite to join us... IONIA, Smyrna Circa 105 - 95 BC AE16 4.45g, 16.5mm Milne 295; BMC 28-29; Hunter 54; Paris 4372-4373. O: Turreted head of Tyche right. R: ΣΜΥΡΝΑΙΩΝ - MOΣXOΣ, Aphrodite Stratonikis right, elbow on short column, holding Nike.
=> I agree, 100% ... oh man, is that PAN strolling down the beach, walkin' his new goat-boy? (uh-oh, there goes the neighborhood!!) .... great, hide the wine!!
