I love provincial types which are unique to a certain city or region because they can tell us so much about what was culturally important to the inhabitants. When it comes to Alexandrian coins the more Egyptian in theme the better, and what can be more Egyptian than the Apis-bull? Domitian Æ Diobol, 9.78g Alexandria Mint, 85-86 AD Obv: AYT KAIΣAP ΔOMITIANOΣ ΣEB ΓΕΡM; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: No legend: Apis-bull standing, r.; before altar; date LE above RPC 2511 (10 spec.). Acquired from Prafectus Coins, April 2020. Ex Dattari Collection. Dattari-Savio Pl. 22, 576 (this coin). Many of Domitian's bronze coins struck at Alexandria feature ethnic types unique to the province. This year 5 diobol's reverse depicting the Apis-bull pays direct homage to its cult and highlights the importance which was placed upon its worship during the Roman era. The Apis-bull was worshipped as a living god and was revered as a sacred animal. It was treated as a pharaoh and was even given a harem of cows! According to Herodotus 'The Apis Bull is the calf of a cow which is never able after to have another. The Egyptians believe that a flash of lightning strikes the cow from heaven, and thus causes her to conceive the Apis. It has distinctive marks. It is black, with a white diamond on its forehead, the image of an eagle on its back, two white hairs on its tail and a scarab-beetle mark under its tongue.' Often in art the Apis is depicted crowned with a sun-disk, as seen on this coin. Worship of the Apis-bull was combined with that of Osiris as Serapis under Ptolemy Soter I, which later became one of the most important Eastern cults of the Roman Empire. After the Apis-bull died it was mummified and transformed into Osiris-Apis. A bronze statue of an Apis-bull circa the 1st century AD. And a colourful reconstruction of an Apis procession by Frederick Bridgman. The coin also has the added bonus of being from the Dattari collection. What more could you ask for?
Great coin, David. And yes, that Dattari pedigree is always a bonus. My Apis bull is on a diobol of Hadrian. HADRIAN AE Diobol. 8.04g, 25mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 17 (AD 132/3). RPC Online #5855; Dattari (Savio) 7917-8. O: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙС ΤΡΑΙΑΝ - ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟС СƐΒ, laureate draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian right, seen from rear. R: Apis bull standing right; altar before, L-IZ above.
I had never heard that the Apis Bull was turned into an Osiris-Apis after it was sacrificed. I agree that one of the most interesting and cool things about Roman provincial coins is that they show what was important to the local city or region. I really should look into them more!
I had read a story about Roman bronze bulls used simultaneously as both a form of punishment and as a party favor. The Bull was placed over a fire pit. The bull could be opened and a slave or other persona non grata placed inside. A bugle-like megaphone was built inside the bull running to the bull's open mouth. As the fire was lit, the person in the bull would begin to scream and the megaphone would distort and amplify the screams to sound like a bull bellowing. The party-goers would be laughing and calling back to the bull. Eventually, of course, the person in the bull died, but not before he gave his final efforts and performance for the benefit of the Emperor and his guests.
The Martyrdom of St. Eustace by Francesco Ferdinandi (1679-1743). Happily, the Catholic Church has denounced the story as a myth.
My Domitian diobol LS (year 6) is without pedigree. The Pius is ex. x6 and holed. What is the significance of the crescent on the bull?
Sorry, nary a Egypt Bull COIN. Here is an Egyptian OX (definition of ox: parts be missing...) Egyptian red-black stone amulet of a trussed ox Late Period 664-332 BC 25x16mm Ex Norma Goldman 1922-2011
Thank you! I just thought it was a cool piece when I found it. I am more apt to acquire smaller items. Perhaps, since I travel so much, the portability is attractive to me. Or, I just like smaller things. Dunno. One of my daughters really enjoys Ancient Egypt, and like me, she enjoys smaller objects. It is fun to show her my Egyptian pieces because she actually appreciates them. This Ox is one of her favorites.
Great coin. I am reminded of my Julian II Apis Bull, which isn't. The absence of the solar disk on the Julian coins leads me to believe that Taurus is being represented.
Pheewww ! That's something very special @David Atherton I can only show the so classical Julian II bull Julian II, AE 1 - Antioch mint, 3 rd officina D N FL CL IVLI ANVS P F AVG, Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Julianus right SECURITAS REIPUB, Bull to right, two stars above. ANT gamma between two branches at exergue 8.73 gr Ref : Cohen #38, RC #4072, LRBC #2641 Q
That is one magnificent bull! I wonder if any of the bull coins depict the extinct auroch? The Apis-bull is a domesticated species, but are all the bulls depicted on these coins domesticated as well? A digital reconstruction of an auroch.
And from that wiki article: 'The Catholic Church discounts the story of Saint Eustace's martyrdom as "completely false"'. I'm no expert in early church history so cannot comment more upon it. Although, as a Flavian 'fanatic' I can say with more confidence the stories concerning Domitian and the Brazen bull are apocryphal myths with no factual basis.
Yeah, I don't know if any of it is true, like I said , I wasn't there, but I do find it very interesting. And I don't think I would put anything past the Romans, or any of the other ancient and/or medieval "civilizations". Think about the Spanish Inquisition. Now there's a bunch of fun guys for you.
