Consort of main Aramaean god Hadad, Atargatis was the Syrian goddess of fertility. She's assimilated with Cybele and believed to be a fusion of 2 Phoenician goddesses, Astarte and Anath. On reverse of this bronze coin struck under Philip I, she's riding a lion right, wearing a mural crown and holding a scepter with her right hand. The coin was struck at Heriopolis in Syria, currently known as "Membij" to the Northern east of Aleppo. It weighs 17.73 g. and measures 29 mm. SNG Cop 63- BMC 57v.
I’d like to get an Atargatis coin one day. I wrote a Celator article years ago on her. She features prominently in Apuleius’s THE GOLDEN ASS. On the want list for next year is a Severan DEA CAELESTIS, with whom she was also syncretized.
@ brother GR.. Here's Dea Caelestis riding a lion on reverse of a silver coin struck in Rome for Carthage under Septimius Severus.
Here is my coin of Hierapolis Syria with Atargatis: Philip II, 244-249. 28 mm. 15.73 grams. AVTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB Autocrater Kaiser M. Julius Phillipus Sebastos Imperator Caesar Marcus Julius Phillipus Augustus ΦEAC CYPIAC IEPO ΠOΛITΩN, Atargatis riding lion right Goddess? Syria Hierapolis(of) [Correct this if you know ancient Greek] Butcher Coinage in Roman Syria, Hieropolis 64c. "probably struck at Antioch. The coins share obverse dies with Antioch, Zeugma, and Cyrrhus." Butcher corrects the old spelling of Hieropolis to Hierapolis.
I love those depictions of Atargatis. I have some in my Collection and don't know which of them I love more. I have Chosen this one to share. Syria, Cyrrhestica, Hierapolis, Severus Alexander, AD 222-35 AE 30, 17.74g, 315° AVT KAI MAP AVP - CE AΛEZANΔPOC Bust, draped, laureate, r. rev. ΘEAC CVPIAC IE - PO - ΠOΛITΩN (beginning upper Right) Atargatis, in long clothes, std. r. on throne, holding with l. hand tympanon set on her knee, resting with r. arm on back of throne; on both sides a lion std. ref. BMC 55; GIC 3367 var. (bust undraped) EF/VF, attractive green-brown patina Best regards