Dear Friends! The next coin with a mythological theme is not about Apollo but about Amphilochos. It is an AE31 from Mallos in Cilicia. The coin: Cilicia, Mallos, Valerian I, AD 252-260 AE 31, 19.89g, 0° obv. IMP C LIC VALERIANVS PI FE AVG (lat.) Bust cuirassed, Aegis on breast plate, laureate, r.. rev. MALLO COLONIA (lat.) Amphilochos, nude except chlamys over l. arm, stg. l., holding in extended r. hand laurel branch; at his feet wild boar; behind him on platform tripod with lebes and a snake coiling around central foot swallowing an egg. in ex. SC ref. SNG Levante 1298 (same obv. die); SNG France 1933 (same obv. die); BMC 13; SGIC 4498 Very rare (Ziegler: only 13 coins known at all from the time of Valerian), about VF, light roughness, small holes due to the fabrication Mythology: Mallos was one of the oldest cities in Cilicia. It is told that the hero Amphilochos was the founder. Amphilochos was the son of Amphiaraos, king of Argos, and Eriphyle and a great hero and seer like his father. Eriphyle has persuaded Amphiaraos to take part in the campaign against Thebens, the famous Seven against Thebens. In this war he was killed. After his death Amphilochos became king of Argos. When his brother Alkmaion learned that his father only because of Eriphyle has fought against Thebens he killed his mother to revenge his father. Ten years later both took part in the expedition of the Epigoni against Thebens. He seems to be one of the suitors of Helena and has to be one of her guardians. As such he came to Troy - a bit late as Apollodor writes in his Bibliotheke - and has fought on side of the Greeks to free her. Together with the seer Kalchas he travelled to Klaros near Kolophon where Kalchas was defeated by Mopsos in a competition of the seer and died of broken heart (Look at the article about Apollo Klarios). Mopsos, son of Apollo and Manto, daughter of Teiresias, was the most famous seer in his time. He was said to be the founder of Klaros. Together with Amphilochos he founded too Mallos in Cilicia. To rule Mallos fair-minded they made an arrangement: Each of them should rule Mallos alternately for one year. Mopsos was first and Amphilochos went to his homeland Argos. When he came back a year later to take over the reign as arranged Mopsos refused and tried to chase him away. The embarassed inhabitants suggested to decide the conflict by duel. In this duel both killed each another. To avoid further controversy between the spirits of Mopsos and Amphilochos the pyres were erected to different sides. But it happened that the spirits discontinued their controversy and joined in friendship and decided to establishe a combined oracle. This oracle in Mallos was after Delphi the most famous in ancient times, actually it is said that its oracles were more reliable than those of Delphi. The priests got their answers in dreams and wrote them on wax plates. The price is said to be two copper coins. Under the reign of Severus Alexander Mallos became Roman colony. Therefore the Latin legends on the coin. Literature: (1) Der kleine Pauly (2) Robert von Ranke-Graves, Greek Mythology (3) Karl Kerenyi, Griechische Heroen-Sagen (4) Benjamin Hederich, Gründliches Mythologisches Lexikon Best regards
Thanks for today's Mythology lesson, Jochen. All of this was new to me, but I suppose Amphilochos is the same person that Argos Amphilochikon was named after? AKARNANIA, Argos Amphilochikon AR Stater. 7.15g, 21.1mm. AKARNANIA, Argos Amphilochikon, circa 350 - 270 BC. Calciati pg. 524, 6 (same dies). O: Pegasos with pointed wing flying right, beneath dog lying right, AP. R: Head of Athena left; AM above helmet; behind, tubula and A.
