Dear friends of ancient Mythology! Here are some words about the early days of Athens: The Coin: Moesia inferior, Nikopolis ad Istrum, Elagabal, AD 218-222 AE 27, 12.71g, 26.84mm, 15° struck under governor Novius Rufus Obv.: AVT K M AVPH - ANTΩNEINOC Bust, draped and cuirassed, laureate, r. Rev.: VΠ NOBIOV POVΦOV NIKOΠOΛITΩN / ΠPOC ICT Athena, with Korinthian helmet, standing l., l. hand akimbo, with r. hand offering a olive branch to the snake that is coiling around the high olive tree before her, behind her a shield (and a spear?) Ref.: a) AMNG I/1, 1921 (1 ex., Sofia) b) Varbanov 3905 c) Hristova/Hoeft/Jekov (2018) No. 8.26.4.10 (this coin) very rare, good VF, nice green patina Note: Pick writes: "This type corresponds almost exactly with the coin from Markianopolis No. 669; whether the goddess also reaches the snake poppy stalks here as there or a patera is doubtful." I have added the detail of another coin where you can see that she is offering a olive branch with fruits to the snake. According to mythology, Athena is said to have introduced the olive tree into Attica. Background: The reverse of this coin alludes on the foundation myth of Athens. Today there is an agreement that Erichthonios and Erechtheus are identical. Wether these two heroes or half-gods, already mentioned by Plato and Apollodoros, are actually Erichthonios or Erechtheus, or perhaps Erichthonios and the son of Erechtheus, who has the same name, is not sure, but very probable. Homer (Ilias I, 547; Odyssee VII, 81) knows only of Erechtheus as original and king of Athens. The first author, differentiating between two persons, was Platon. Mythology: When Hephaistos want to sleep with Athena the goddess repulsed him and his sperm fell down on earth and by Gaia or Atthis, daughter of Cranaos, he became father of Erichthonios, who was at whole or to the half snake-shaped. Athena brought this being up without the cognition of the other gods, commanded a dragon to watch over it, hid it in a chest and consigned it to Agraulos, Pandrosos and Herse, the daughters of king Kekrops of Athens, under the interdiction to open the chest. But the three disregarded the interdiction and opened the chest. Beholding the child in the shape of a snake (or coiled by a snake) they were got by madness and jumped from the Akropolis, referring to others into the sea. The snake fled into the shield of Athena and was saved by her (Apollod. III. 14. §16; Ovid Met. II, 554) When Erichthonios grow up he expelled Amphiktyon from Athens and took the reign over Athens himself and his wife Pasithea give birth to his son Pandion. It is said that Erichthonios has founded the worshipping of Athena and has established the celebration of the Panathenaia. He should have built the temple of Athena on the Akropolis. When Athena and Poseidon disputed about the ruling over Attica Erichthonios took side of Athena. He was the first using a cart with four horses (problaby due to hide his snake feet) and was set to the sky as Auriga (charioteer). And finally it is suggested that he has teached the Athenians the treatment of silver which was discovered by the Scythic king Indus. He was buried in the temple of Athena and his veneration on the Akrpolis was connected with Athena and Poseidon. His famous temple, the Ereichtheion, stands on the Akropolis and within there were three altars, the first for Poseidon, on which was sacrified for Erechtheus too, the second for Butes and the last one for Hephaistos (Pausanias I.26.§6) Note: Butes, son of Pandion I and Zeuxippe, was a priest of Poseidon and Athena and was worshipped as a hero by the Athenians. He was married to Chthonia, daughter of his brother rechtheus. I have added a pic of the Ereichtheion on the Akropolis. It shows the famous part with the Karyatides Best regards
Some of my fondest memories are from my visit to Athens in 1973. Stayed there for a week and lived on 23$ a day & a Eurail Pass. Was able to visit the acropolis each night in the moonlight for free. I was so glad they did not turn on the garish 'tourist lights' they had installed. Just let the moon do the lighting. Talking about magical! J.T.
Nice metals! When I visited in 1973 the only souvenir I found & still have was a ticket stub from admission to the acropolis during the daytime. J.T.
