Ephesus- not just about bees and stags.The cult of Artemis and my new Julia Mamaea

The Temple of Artemis or Artemision (Greek: Ἀρτεμίσιον; Turkish: Artemis Tapınağı), also known as the Temple of Diana, was a Greek temple dedicated to an ancient, localised form of the goddess Artemis (equalized to Diana, a Roman goddess). It was located in Ephesus (near the modern town of Selçuk in present-day Turkey). By AD 401 it had been ruined or destroyed.[1] Only foundations and fragments of the last temple remain at the site.

The earliest version of the temple (a Bronze Age temenos) antedated the Ionic immigration by many years. Callimachus, in his Hymn to Artemis, attributed it to the Amazons. In the 7th century BC, it was destroyed by a flood.

Its reconstruction, in more grandiose form, began around 550 BC, under Chersiphron, the Cretan architect, and his son Metagenes. The project was funded by Croesus of Lydia, and took 10 years to complete. This version of the temple was destroyed in 356 BC by an arsonist, commonly thought to have been a madman named Herostratus.

The next, greatest, and last form of the temple, funded by the Ephesians themselves, is described in Antipater of Sidon's list of the world's Seven Wonders:

What remains today.



Archeologists discovered a rich foundation deposit from this era, also called the "Artemision deposit", yielded more than a thousand items, including what may be the earliest coins made from the silver-gold alloy electrum.[11] The deposit contains some of the earliest inscribed coins, those of Phanes, dated to 625–600 BC from Ephesus, with the legend ΦΑΕΝΟΣ ΕΜΙ ΣΗΜΑ (or similar) ("I am the badge of Phanes"), or just bearing the name ΦΑΝΕΟΣ ("of Phanes")

Some examples ( sadly not my coins)



Electrotype of electrum coin from Ephesus, 625–600 BC. Stag grazing right, ΦΑΕΝΟΣ ΕΜΙ ΣΕΜΑ (retrograde, "I am the badge of Phanes").



The earliest known inscribed coinage, from the foundation deposit of the Temple of Artemis: electrum coin of Phanes from Ephesus, 625–600 BC. Obverse: Stag grazing right, ΦΑΝΕΟΣ (retrograde). Reverse: Two incuse punches, each with raised intersecting lines

Which brings us to my new acquisition. Julia Mamaea with an interesting reverse. Each year there was a celebratory procession which featured a portrayal of Artemis carried along by two horses pulling a 4 wheeled sacred carriage called a carpentum.

My coin

Ionia. Ephesos. Julia Mamaea. Augusta AD 225-235.
Bronze Æ
28 mm, 11,52 g
RPC Volume: VI №: 4977 (temporary)
Reign: Severus Alexander Persons: Julia Mamaea (Augusta)
City: Ephesus Region: Ionia Province: Asia (conventus of Ephesus)
Denomination: Æ (30 mm) Average weight: 10.83 g.
Obverse: ΙΟΥΛΙΑ ΜΑΜΑΙΑ ϹΕΒ; diademed and draped bust of Julia Mamaea, right
Translation: Julia Mamaea Augusta
Reverse: ΑΠΗΜΗ ΙΕΡΑ ΕΦΕϹΙΩΝ (or ΕΦΕϹΙΩΝ ΑΠΗΜΗ ΙΕΡΑ); carpentum
drawn by two horses, right
Translation: sacred carriage, of the Ephesians
Reference: Karwiese 806–7



Thanks for reading

 

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Indeed not just about bees and stags! Ephesus during the early Flavian period produced a smattering of imperial denarii that today are highly desired by collectors for their fine style.

Here's one of my favourites.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=171120

And another.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=160816

 

A very nice provincial AE. I note that there is some interest in these among advanced collectors.

I guess people would call your coin a pentassarion based on the 10g weight during this pre- AE inflationary time?

What reference guides could you suggest for researching or learning more about AE provincials?

I guess RPC stands for Roman Provincial Coinage? In many ways these pieces are more fascinating than the regular issues. And a lot more affordable!

 

@Gallienus I agree the provincial coinage displays a wonderful creativity to the engraving of the reverses. Apart from Republican and a few Greeks, my collection is about 50/50 between classical Imperial and Provincials. RPC is a good place