The bright dog star Seirios

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Pavlos, Jan 11, 2021.

  1. Pavlos

    Pavlos You pick out the big men. I'll make them brave!

    [​IMG]

    The brightest star in the night sky is Seirios (Sirius) in the constellation Canis, and it is traditionally associated with the Dog Days, when there is hot weather. During the Dog Days from late July to late August, Sirius in Southern Europe is visible shortly before sunrise. The brightness and its blue hue from the star was believed to produce a “side-effect” which could bring on deadly epidemic diseases. Hesiod and Homer mention that the Dog Star was believed to have brought on diseases associated with the over-heating and drying of the body, such as fevers.

    Seirios held particular importance at Keos, a bright clear appearance of the star portended good fortune, while a faint appearance signaled pestilence.

    [​IMG]

    At Keos there was cult where inhabitants try to guard against the effects of the Dog Star using rituals. The Dog Star was burning the Cyclades with its heat and producing much pestilence on the islands and therefore the people of Keos prayed to the rural god Aristaios, the son of Apollo and Kyrene, who was taught both medicine and divination by the Centaur Chiron.
    Aristaios came to the island from Libya where he was born, built an altar to the god Zeus, who then relieved the suffering of the Keians by bringing refreshing winds and rains. Aristaios ordered the islanders to perform this rite every year so as to appease the violent rising of the Dog Star and to pray to Zeus for the Etesian winds.

    A coin from Keos showing the dog star on the reverse:
    [​IMG]
    Cyclades, Keos. Karthaia. AE. Late 3rd-early 2nd century B.C.
    Obverse:
    Laureate head of Apollo to right.
    Reverse: Forepart of a dog (Seirios) to left; below, fly; all within circle of rays.
    Reference: Papageorgiadou-Banis Series VIII, Issue 1. SNG Copenhagen 623-624.
    3.93g; 16mm
    Ex Tom Cederlind Estate, previously from Frank L. Kovacs (San Rafael, CA, USA) and Hellenic Roman Coins (Hewitt, NJ).

    The citizens of Keos watched for the rising of the Dog Star every year from the mountaintops. By observing the appearance of the star the inhabitants would try to determine whether the island would suffer from epidemics or not. If the star appeared clear and bright, the islanders would experience a healthy year, but if it appeared misty and dull, disease would spread across the island.
    Aristaios did not stay on Keos but traveled the western Mediterranean Sea, visiting the islands there and for a time even ruling over Sardinia. Later still he traveled to Thrace where he lived near Mt. Haimos and became initiated in the rites of Dionysos.

    A coin from Keos with Dionysiac iconography associated to Aristaios:
    [​IMG]
    Cyclades, Keos. Karthaia. late 4th-early 3rd century BC. AE.
    Obverse:
    Youthful head of Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath.
    Reverse: [ΚΑΡΘΑ] Grape bunch; in left field, the dog-star, Sirius.
    Reference: HGC 6, 555. Joy 522-3. Papageorgiadou-Banis Group VII issue 2.
    5.35g; 19mm
    From the Vineyard Collection, ex Classical Numismatic Group 60, 22 May 2002, 592. Ex Münzen & Medaillen GmbH Auktion 5, 21 October 1999, 193.

    Please share your coins of the Cyclades, coins featuring a star or a dog and coins with Dionysiac iconography!
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    VERY cool Dog-Star reverse! Thanks for the OP.

    STAR
    upload_2021-1-11_15-19-14.png
    THRACE Cherronesos Æ10 1.0g 386-309 BCE Roaring lion head - Star of five rays SNG BM Black Sea 726 SNG Stancomb 463
     
  4. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Very familiar with the star, generally familiar with its mythology, completely unfamiliar with the Keos cult or the coins featuring it. Great post!
     
    Pavlos and Roman Collector like this.
  5. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Fascinating coin and a great score, Pavlos. Thanks also for the excellent writeup.

    Sirius was important to the Ancient Egyptians as well, as it marked the coming of the annual Nile flooding. It was also central to their 1460-year Sothic cycle of dating. Sirius was personified as the goddess Sopdet, who became conflated with Isis in the Ptolemaic period. The iconography of the dog was worked in by depicting Isis-Sothis riding a dog.

    Antoninus Pius - Drachm ex Grover Isis Sothis 2048.jpg
    ANTONINUS PIUS
    AE Drachm. 16.68g, 32.6mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 21(AD 157/8). Emmett 1593.21; RPC Online Temp 15227. O: Laureate head with traces of drapery right. R: Isis-Sothis, holding cornucopia and scepter, seated facing and riding a dog right who wears a radiate crown and is looking back at her; below, L KA.
    Ex Robert L. Grover Collection of Roman-Egyptian Coinage, previously held by the Art Institute of Chicago (1982.1965)
     
  6. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    A really interesting write up about an island and coins I had no idea existed. Thanks for posting that. Now it will be chaos in the coin kiosks as people search for one from Keos.

    Sorry. :angelic:

    John
     
    Pavlos and -jeffB like this.
  7. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

    Winter is nigh, with his bright presence in the southern sky........
     
    panzerman and Pavlos like this.
  8. Pavlos

    Pavlos You pick out the big men. I'll make them brave!

    Thanks @Alegandron and cool coin!

    Thank you Jeff!

    Great coin and background story @zumbly . When I was investigating about Keos I indeed came across it's high importance in Egypt history. Facinating stuff.

    Thank you Theodosius. Hehe indeed :D, unfortunately these issues are very rare and are sold only a few times a year. Maybe my post now increased the market value of this type? :p
     
    Theodosius likes this.
  9. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I knew it was important to the Egyptians but not so much for the Greeks.
     
    Pavlos and NewStyleKing like this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page