Elephant in Circus

might add that many elephants were killed in the Colosseum for enjoyment of the roman citizens.

 

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gorgeous coin .... but obviously, very bad that elephants were killed for amusement

 

When Pompey the Great dedicated his theatre, the Curia Pompeia, in 55 BC, one of the cruel spectacles he devised was the slaughter of twenty elephants by a contingent of spearmen. Rather than being awed and entertained, the people ended up pitying the elephants and cursing the name of Pompey. Cassius Dio wrote that "[the elephants] were pitied by the people when, after being wounded and ceasing to fight, they walked about with their trunks raised toward heaven, lamenting so bitterly as to give rise to the report that they did so not by mere chance, but were crying out against the oaths in which they had trusted when they crossed over from Africa, and were calling upon Heaven to avenge them."

 

I only have a couple Elephants... an AE for Seleukid and an AR for JC:


Seleucid Seleucus I 312-280 BCE AE 20 Athena-Elephant Spaer 129 Obv-Rev.JPG


RR Caesar AR Denarius 49 BCE Traveling Mint Elephant-Pontificates Sear 1399 Craw 443-1 Obv-Rev.jpg

 

I picked-off this pachyderm in a recent auction:

 

That is an awesomely awkward elephant! I think it would be fun to collect a set of Least Realistic Elephants. This issue certainly belongs, as do some of the Julius Caesar denarii and a few other Republican denarii. Somewhere on my many digital notes I've started a list of issuers of these peculiar pachyderms

 

I REALLY like that coin! Well done!!!

 

Mmmmm... Elephant skin headdress ?

Juba I AE23. 60-46 BC.

Obv.: Head of Africa, wearing elephant skin headdress.
Rev.: Lion, legend above.



(Bought a new camera some time ago, with a macro lens for coins, and my pics are still s..... )

 

Wow => that coin is fricken awesome!!

Happy Halloween, my Canadian friend!! (you rock)

... hey, sell me that one!!

 

Several others have already posted examples, but here's my Antiochus VI elephant:

 

LOVE elephant threads!!! Wonderful posts everyone!!

I only had a 'tiny' elephant on a shield (and my worn JC type) until I snagged this denarius; Titus, RIC 116:

 

Have to say that this thread has been a joy to read, some stunning coins shown as well. Thank you all