When researching new coins geography and location have always been a driving force for my collection as well as learning the historical significance of each city. Here is a coin from Aezanis in Phrygia where the combination of theater and stadium is said to be unique in the ancient world. Phrygia, Aezanis. Caligula Æ16 Obv: Γ ΚΑΙ ϹƐΒ ΓƐΡΜΑΝΙΚΟϹ / Laureate head of Caligula, r. Rev: ΑΙΖΑΝΙΤΩΝ ΕΠΙ ΠΡΑΞΙΜΕ / Draped bust of Artemis with bow, r. Magistrate Praxime. Theater and stadium Edict of Diocletian inscribed on wall at the macellum. Temple of Zeus Post your coin and images of ruins from that city that you find interesting.
Here's a coin of Tasciovanus, King of the Trinovantes and Catuvellauni (20BC-9AD), struck around the time of the birth of Christ in Verlamion (near St Albans, England). Tasciovanus (‘killer of badgers’) founded Verlamion as the capital of the Catuvellauni, who lived in modern Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and south Cambridgeshire. He was fabled to be son of King Lud, founder of London, although he was probably son of the Trinovantian king Addedomaros, founder of Colchester, Essex. Tasciovanus Unit, 5BC-5AD Verlamion. Silver. Saltire. Boar (SCBC 236) Verlamion ('settlement by the marsh') was a large administrative centre that emerged to deal with trade with the Roman world. The Romans took it over, calling it Verulamium. It was second only to London. Queen Boudica destroyed it in 61AD during her rebellion. Verulamium Today (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Verulamium_Roman_Theatre_1.jpg) St Alban (the first British saint and eponym of St Albans) was reputed to have come from (and been martyred at) Verulamium, and indeed became a saint after his first-hand experience of the Roman persecution of Christians.
Some ruins from Zeugma, Asia Minor: And a coin from the time of Phillip the Arab: COMMAGENE, Zeugma. Philip I the Arab. 247-249 AD. Æ31, 19.2g; 6h Obv.: AYTOK K M IOYΛI ФIΛIΠΠOC CЄB; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: ZЄYGM-ATЄΩN; Peribolos containing grove of trees, seen in perspective; tetrastyle temple in distance, draped figure within (Zeus?); in exergue, capricorn to right. Reference: Butcher 31c; BMC 35. The city was attacked and destroyed by the Sassanids in 256....in the time of Valerian and Gallienus. The city was the base of the Legion IV Parthica.
I sometimes use the internet to study strange ideas and myths. I came across this a few months ago: https://www1.cbn.com/700club/seat-satan-ancient-pergamum This is an argument that: «The people of Pergamum were known as the "Temple-keepers of Asia." The city had three temples dedicated to the worship of the Roman emperor, another for the goddess Athena, and the Great Altar of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. Many scholars believe this altar is the “Throne of Satan” mentioned in the book of Revelation.» «The Great Altar of Pergamon is considered to be one of the greatest surviving monuments from antiquity. Now located in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, Germany, the altar is thought by many scholars to be the “throne of Satan,” referred to by the prophet John in the Book of Revelations. (Revelation 2:12–13)» Source: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org...places/biblical-archaeology-sites/pergamon-2/ And the coin, then: Pergamon, Mysia, AE15 200-30 BC. Obverse: DIODOROY, Bearded head of Asklepios right Reverse: ASKLHPIOY SWTHROS, Serpent-entwined staff of Asklepios. Reference: SNG Tuebingen 2423; SNG Righetti 744; SNG von Aulock 1383; SNG Cop 369-375; Weber 5190; Lindgren I 296; BMC 151-152. According to the first article: «The city also had a healing center called the Asklepion, built in honor of Asklepios, the Greek serpent-god. In the first century, this was a cross between a hospital and a health spa, where patients could get everything from a mud bath to a major surgery. Even the emperors came all the way from Rome to be treated here, but this was no ordinary doctor's visit. “If you were a terminal patient, you were not allowed to go into the Asklepion,” says Renner. “These Asklepion priests didn’t want anyone hearing that someone had died in the Asklepion. There was a huge sign just above the official entrance to the Asklepion that said, ‘Death is not permitted here.’ So the only way you were going to get in to begin with is if they knew you were going to live.” Patients entered through an underground tunnel. Then they drank a sedative, and spent the night in the dormitories of the Asklepion, while non-poisonous snakes crawled around them all night. They were told that the serpent-god Asklepios would speak to them in their dreams and give them a diagnosis. “It was believed that the snakes carried the healing power of Asklepios,” and if a snake slithered across you while you were sleeping at night, that was a divine sign that healing power was coming to you.” The next morning, the patients told their "dreams" to the priests, who prescribed their treatments. Finally, the patients made clay sculptures of the body parts that needed healing and offered them to Asklepios.» I feel I should have added some scary music here, but perhaps it’s enough already.
A fun thing you can do with medievals is to associate them with castles. In the absence of much of a feudal series for English hammered, I do that with those all the time. Here's a Henry III long cross cut halfpenny that @TheRed very kindly sold me when he upgraded to a (magnificent) whole one. Rev.: ION [ON CAR]LEL. (...Really great to get the moneyer and mint from a cut half!) ...Here's one view of Carlisle Castle, from the English Heritage website: ...Carlisle was right on the the Scottish border, in Cumberland. Here's a cool Scottish folk song (collected by Robert Burns) about a blind harper from across the border who stole a prize horse from an unnumbered King Henry, who happened to be holding court at Carlisle.
@+VGO.DVCKS Jamie Mcmenemy is a now on my playlist. Melos in the Cycades islands where the Venus de Milo was excavated in 1820. Achaea. Cyclades, Melos. Demos / Palladium AE24 Obv: DHMOC / Bearded bust of Demos r. Rev: ΜΗΛΙΩΝ / Statue of Pallas Athena(Palladium) standing facing head r., holding spear aloft in right hand, preparing to strike, circular shield on left arm. 24mm., 12.2g. Time of Nerva. The island has a mining heritage that is as old as the Neolithic Period, when it was a source of obsidian for the entire Mediterranean. Pliny the Elder wrote that Milos provided more sulphur than anywhere in the ancient world, while it was also highly valued for its rich alum deposits. Theater overlooking the volcanic island of Melos. Catacombs dating from the 1st century AD
One of the attractions for me in collecting ancient coins is the history that accompanies them. Your post is an excellent example of this relationship. Thank you.
Thank you for your excellent post, @ancientone ! I agree with you that learning about the history and geography of the individual coins is both fun and fascinating. With GOOGLE Earth and Street View it’s possible to take in the ancient landmarks from all angles.
I have a few coins from Augusta Emerita - modern-day Emerita. It was founded by Augustus in 25BC as a colonia for retired soldiers. It was the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania and a large city in its day. Many of the coins (well, two of mine, but it's a fairly popular subject on them) feature the double gate at the entrance to the city. E.g. on this denarius: Obv. IMP CAESAR AVGVST - Bare head of Augustus left Rev. P CARISIVS LEG PRO PR - Circular city wall with EMERITA inscribed above gate Mint: Emerita (25 - 23 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 3.20g / 19mm / 6h References: RIC 9b BMC 291 I've been to Merida a couple of times, first in 2012, when I took these photos. One of the entrances has been closed, so we're down to one today: The gate is at one end of this bridge, which has stood since Roman times: Archaeological investigations have been under way for over a century, in and around the city, as much of the Roman remains are buried under the modern city. There's plenty to see - mosaic from museum: Amphitheatre: Theatre: Aqueduct in the evening: Temple at night: Triumphal Arch at night, minus its marble cladding: Well worth a visit in Spain ATB, Aidan.
I have several coins from Augusta Emerita. Thanks for posting the photos. Looks awesome. Nice to connect coins and a dot on the map to real images. SC
Great trip and photos Aidan. I believe Maximus Decimus Meridius (Gladiator) lived near Merida. (Except that he was not a real person)!
OK - Akragas/Agrigento. I've only 2 coins of Akragas - the ruins are more interesting than my coins. The first is from just before the Carthaginian sack of the city in 406BC: Bronze Trias Obv. Eagle right with spread wings holding hare in talons, which it attacks with its beak Rev. Crab above crayfish left, 3 pellets between Mint: (425-406BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 10.21g / 20mm / 2h References: SG 1023 Forschner 387 The second is from a little after. Bronze Hemilitron Obv.: ΑΚΡΑΓΑΣ - Horned head of Akragas left, wearing tainia Rev.: Eagle standing left on Ionic column, head right; crab to left. Value mark ... / ... to right Mint: Akragas (ca. 400-380 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 14.96g / 25mm / 6h References: HGC 2, 139 I had a few days between jobs in 2015 and went to Rome and Sicily to see where the nice coins come from. I got to Agrigento (via Segesta & Selinunte) late at night and this was the view from my room of the Valley of The Temples - it's a misnomer as it's not a valley, the temples are on high ground. The Temple of Concordia by daylight (middle one above). I believe its original dedication is unknown; it was later re-dedicated to Cosmas & Damian as a Christian church and there is a theory it was originally dedicated to two gods. In fact, as far as I recall, the original dedications of all the temples here are far from certain. Temple of Juno (on right in first picture). Temple of Heracles (on left in first picture) Temple of Zeus. Well, an Atlas from the temple. This was the largest Doric temple in the Greek world, though the remains are fragmentary. The last destruction of it was in the 1700s, when a much of the stone was carted away to build a harbour. Several huge Atlases apparently supported the roof. The Wikipedia article has some info. on it and, coincidentally, has a photo' of the same Doric capital as in my second-last photo' above. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Olympian_Zeus,_Agrigento ATB, Aidan.
A couple of coins of Hadrian (a denarius and dupondius minted in Rome), and a bunch of photos I took at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli (about 30 km ENE of Rome) when I was there with my son back in August 2008. Unfortunately, I didn't label the photos from Hadrian's Villa, so I can't name everything they depict. But they may at least give some idea of what it looks like. This one and the next two after it are photos of Hadrian's tiny private island surrounded by water, containing a theater and a residence. More to come.
Some more photos taken at Hadrian's Villa: Some of the tunnels at Hadrian's Villa have legible graffiti dating back at least to the 18th century. The rest of the photos were all taken at the reflecting pond, lined with statues. The area in which the pond is located was supposed to have an Egyptian theme, and was apparently named "Canopus," after the location where Antinous drowned.
An old thread, but I got a coin today in the post which fits in with a place I visited a few years ago. Segesta - an ancient city in the north-west of Sicily: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segesta All that remains today to be seen at Segesta are an impressive temple and a theatre. It was a lovely morning at the end of April when I was there. The coin is a bit rough - presumably it has been cleaned of horn silver. From the sale description - "Circa 412-400 BC. Hound to right, three stalks of barley behind; Σ[ΕΓΕΣ]ΤΑZ[ΙΒ] in exergue / ΣΕΓΕΣΤΑZΙΒ, head of nymph to right, wearing necklace with lion pendant. Hurter 189 (V58/R-); Jameson 711; SNG München 861. 7.26g, 23mm, 12h." The nymph is also referred to as Aigiste, a Trojan princess - Segesta was supposedly founded by her son Aigestes and he and his hounds also feature on some coins. Didrachms of Segesta all feature a hound and the head of Aigiste, as here. ATB, Aidan.
