I tend to be all over the place with my coin interests, but I always keep a look-out for those that depict Greek myths, which I've loved since I was a boy. This recent pickup, a Roman Provincial from Tarsus in Cilicia, is one of those, showing on its reverse the epic throwdown between Herakles and Antaios. Antaios was the half-giant son of Poseidon, god of the Seas, and Gaia, primordial goddess of the Earth. He forced into a wrestling match those who passed through his lands near Tingis (modern day Tangier), and as he was invincible as long as his feet were in contact with the earth, Antaios defeated all whom he fought, killing them and using their skulls to build a temple to his father, Poseidon. When Herakles travelled through North Africa en route to the Garden of the Hesperides, he bested Antaios by lifting him off the ground to render him momentarily vulnerable, after which he proceeded to crush his ribs, forcing the points into the helpless giant's liver and killing him. Brutal . CARACALLA AE32. 17.91g, 32.3mm. CILICIA, Tarsus, circa AD 198-217. SNG France 1520. O: AVT KAI M AVP CЄVHPOC ANTΩNЄINOC CЄB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; Π – Π in fields. R: ANTΩNIANHC CЄV MHTP / TAPCOV / A M K Γ Β, Herakles left, lifting Antaios off the ground; club draped with lion skin to left. As a postscript to this myth, Plutarch tells of the time when the renegade Roman general Quintus Sertorius, having fled from Sulla's forces in Spain to North Africa, arrived at Tingis and was shown a great mound which he was told was the tomb of Antaios. Disbelieving of the local legends, Sertorius had the mound dug and was subequently left gobsmacked when the grave below revealed a skeleton 60 cubits (about 90 feet) in length. He quickly had the tomb closed again after offering the appropriate sacrifices.
That is a nice one. Any 'labors' coin other than the lion is special but this big one is really interesting. The big AMK Tarsos coins I have seen are mostly later (time of Valerian) adding another point to the appeal here.
This Gordian III, also from Tarsus, shows a Labour proper; specifically, the one he was heading for when he was waylaid by Antaios. The ever-so-slightly rough surfaces on this coin are a little regrettable ... GORDIAN III AE34. 20.82g, 34.3mm. CILICIA, Tarsus, circa AD 238-244. SNG France 1667 var. (rev legend). O: AVT KAI M ANTΩNIOC ΓOPΔIANOC CЄB, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right; Π – Π in exergue. R: TAPCOV MHTPOΠOΛЄΩ / A M - K Γ B, Hercules standing facing, head left, holding club and apples of Hesperides; serpent-entwined tree to left. Notes: The reverse legend proclaims that Tarsus, designated metropolis, was the First (PRWTH), Greatest (MEGISTH) and Most Beautiful (KALLISTH) city of three provinces (Cilicia, Isauria, Lycaonia), and the holder of two neocories.
WOW! I like that coin @zumbly ! LOL, and WAY COOL on the postscript on Sertorius. Someone must had a great time creating something to put in that grave to scare the crapiollio out of someone should they had dug it up!
