Artemis: Goddess of the hunt & Twin of Apollo

I'll start with my latest coin of Artemis (Diana to the Romans) and then tell her story:

Lydia. Hierokaisareia. Pseudo-autonomous issue AD 54-68. Time of Nero. ΚΑΠΙΤΩΝ ΑΡΧΙΕΡΕΥΣ (Kapiton, high priest)
Bronze Æ
17 mm, 3,22 g
IЄPOKAICAPЄωN, draped bust of Artemis right, with bow and quiver over shoulder / ЄΠΙ ΚΑΠΙΤωΝOC ΑΡXΙЄΡЄωC, forepart of stag right.
very fine
RPC I 2390.

The Greek gods being what they were/are, Artemis was a true splash of cold water in the faces of such sexual deviants as Zeus, Ares and Artemis own twin brother Apollo and their exploits. Not to mention Aphrodite or Hera herself!
The sporty Spice of the Olympians really. The goddess of the hunt and wild animals was A-sexual and swore to never fall in love. Surely in part due to her own father's philandering ways (she and Apollo were born of Leto in one of Zeus's countless love affairs):

(Just like on the coin, Artemis is rarely seen without her stag by her side)

So serious was she about her chastity that when the hunter hero Aktaion accidently spied her nude bathing with her nymphs

(Yeah, in my younger days I may have been willing to let myself be eaten by hounds to view such a scene)

she turned the hunter into a stag for his dogs to devour!

(Bell krater (mixing bowl) in Ceramic, Red Figure from Athens at the start of the classical period, around 470 BCE, of Artemis ensuring a most macabre death for Aktaion's mistake)

Ironically to us now a days, the virgin goddess was also the goddess of childbirth and helping ease birthing mothers pains.
Stories abound of her spiteful nature. Just like all Olympians are, she was incredibly vein. Similar to her brother's flaying of Marsyas for trying to say he was a better musician, she sent a wild boar to kill Adonis for the incredibly petty reason of him boasting that he was a better hunter than she:

(Seems reasonable)

She would also play a key role from the very beginning of the Trojan war. Her brother being the patron God of the city, she also backed that doomed place.
When the Greeks set sail on the voyage to steal back Helen Artemis calmed the sea. Agamemnon once promised her that he would sacrifice his daughter to her. The Greeks were going nowhere until Iphigenia was dead. In one of the most bizarre and sickening twists of a story filled with bizarre and sickening twists, Agamemnon relented and agreed to the killing of his own daughter. Some stories say that at the last moment Artemis saved Iphigenia to turn her into Hekate goddess of witchcraft:

PHRYGIA.Apamea.Pseudo-autonomous.Time of the Severans (193-235). Ae.
Obv : ΠAMЄIA.
Turreted and draped bust of Tyche to right.
Rev : CΩTЄIPA.
Hekate triformis, holding torch in each hand.
BMC 110-113.
Condition : Nice green patina.Good very fine.
Weight : 2.2 gr
Diameter : 15 mm

So prolific was she and her worship (that lasted over a millenia) hundreds if not thousands of Temples and sanctuaries were built in her name.
The Temple of Artemis in Jordan is still around today:

(Built during the time of Antoninus Pius)



A couple other favorites of Artemis/Diana coins:

Macedonia under Roman rule
AR tetradrachm- 16,21 gram,31 mm, struck after 168AD at Amphipolis
obv: diademed head of Artemis Tauropolos facing right with quiver over shoulder in the center of a Macedonian shield, shield decorated with seven eight-pointed stars within double crescents
rev: Club of Herakles within oak wreath, monograms and legend around, thunderbolt at left
AMNG III, 159, SNG Cop 1314, BMC 2


CILICIA, Soloi. Circa 100-30 BC. Æ 21mm (7.81 g, 1h). Bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder; c/m: rose / Athena advancing right, brandishing thunderbolt and holding shield; monograms to left. SNG France 1189 var. (monograms); SNG Levante 860 var. (same).



Thanks for reading! Please post your coins of Artemis/Diana, brother Apollo, coins of Lydia, favorite stories of the beautiful goddess that none could have or anything that surely none on CT Are-to-miss

 

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Fun and entertaining write-up, @Ryro! I have many Artemis and Diana coins, but this is my favorite.

Is there anything cooler than Artemis doing a drive by shooting in a stag biga?


Julia Mamaea, AD 222-235.
Roman provincial Æ 28.5 mm, 11.90 g, 5 h.
Ionia, Ephesus, AD 222-235.
Obv: IOVΛIA MAMAIA CЄB, draped bust, right, wearing stephane.
Rev: EΦЄCIΩN ΠΡΩTΩN ACIAC, Artemis driving biga of stags right, holding bow and drawing arrow from quiver.
Refs: RPC VI, 4975 (temporary); Karwiese 804; SNG von Aulock --; SNG Copenhagen --.
Notes: Ex-Plankenhorn Collection of Ionian Coins, ex-Naumann Auction 91, lot 927, 7 May, 2020.

 

Wonderful writeup and illustrations, @Ryro. Judging from that bell krater, I guess Artemis took the time to get dressed first before having her hounds tear Actaeon apart. Always modest!

My one Artemis:

Diadumenian Caesar, AE Tetrassarion (4 Assaria), 217-218 AD, Nicopolis ad Istrum [Nikyup, Bulgaria] Mint, Moesia Inferior, Statius Longinus, Consular Legate. Obv. Bareheaded bust of Diadumenian right, draped and armored, seen from behind, M OPEL DIADOV-MENIANOC K (OV ligate) [ = Marcus Opellius Diadumenianus, Caesar] / Rev. Artemis, wearing short chiton, walking right, holding bow in left hand and drawing arrow from quiver in right hand, hound jumping behind her left foot, VΠ CTA ΛONΓINOV NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOC I / CTPΩ in exergue [ = Consular legate Longinus, (Governor) of the residents of Nikopolis on the (river) Istros]. AMNG I/I 1843 [Pick, Behrendt, Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands Vol. I/I (Berlin, 1898) at p. 467]; Varbanov I 3743 [Varbanov, Ivan, Greek Imperial Coins And Their Values, Volume I: Dacia, Moesia Superior & Moesia Inferior (English Edition) (Bourgas, Bulgaria, 2005) at p. 308]; Hristova-Hoeft-Jekov 8.25.13.3 [Hristova, H., H.-J. Hoeft, & G. Jekov. The Coins of Moesia Inferior 1st - 3rd c. AD: Nicopolis ad Istrum (Blagoevgrad, 2015)]. [Footnote omitted.]



But I have lots of Dianas:

Roman Republic, C.. Allius Bala, AR Denarius, 92 BCE, Rome mint. Obv.: Diademed female head (Diana?)* right, wearing necklace; BALA behind, control mark "R" below chin / Rev.: Diana in biga of stags right, holding sceptre and reins in left hand and flaming torch in right, with quiver over shoulder; control-mark (grasshopper) below stags; C•ALLI in exergue; all within laurel wreath. Crawford 336/1b; RSC I Aelia [Allia] 4 (ill.), Sear RCV I 221 (ill.), Sydenham 595, BMCRR 1742-1771 [no control-letter "R"]. 17 mm., 3.88 g. [Footnote omitted.]



Roman Republic, A. Postumius A.f. Sp.n. Albinus (Aulus Postumius Albinus, son of Aulus [mint magistrate ca. 96 BCE], and grandson of Spurius [Consul 110 BCE]), AR Serrate Denarius, 81 BCE. Obv. Draped bust of Diana right, with bow and quiver over shoulder, figure of stag’s head at end of bow (horns to left), bucranium above [off flan] / Rev. Roman priest standing facing on rocky ground (on Aventine Hill), head left, with right arm extended holding aspergillum, sprinkling heifer [Harlan, RRM I*], bull [Crawford & Sear], or ox [RSC] which he is about to sacrifice, a lighted altar between them, A POST - AF - SN • ALBIN [AL in monogram] around. RSC I Postumia 7, Crawford 372/1, Sydenham 745, Sear RCV I 296 (ill.), Harlan, RRM I Ch. 1 at pp. 1-7, BMCRR 2836. 18.54 mm., 3.85 g. Ex. Spink & Sons Ltd. (before 2000 because of address on Spink coin tag; probably before 1974 given citation to Sydenham but not Crawford.) [Footnote omitted.]



Roman Republic, Ti. Claudius Ti.f. Ap.n. Nero [Tiberius Claudius Nero, son of Tiberius and grandson of Appius], AR Serrate Denarius, 78 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust of Diana right with hair in topknot, bow and quiver over shoulder, figure of stag’s head at end of bow (horns to left), S • C [Senatus Consulto] before / Rev. Winged Victory driving galloping biga right, with horses’ heads straining forward, holding wreath in right hand and palm frond and reins in left hand, control number CXXXIIII beneath horses; in exergue, TI•CLAVD•TI•F [VD ligate] / [A]P•N [AP ligate] in two lines. Crawford 383/1, RSC Claudia 5, Sear RCV I 310 (ill.), Sydenham 770, BMCRR 3096-3113 [Control number CXXXIIII not included], Harlan, RRM I Ch. 8, pp. 36-39 [Harlan, Michael, Roman Republican Moneyers and their Coins, 81 BCE-64 BCE (2012)]. 18 mm., 4.01 g., 6 h. [Footnote omitted.]



Roman Republic, C. Postumius, AR Denarius, Rome 74 BCE. Obv. Bust of Diana R. w/ bow and quiver, figure of stag’s head at end of bow (horns to left) / Rev. Hound running R., hunting spear below, “C POSTUMI TA” [TA in monogram] in exergue. RSC I Postumia 9, Crawford 394/1a, Sear RCV I 330, Harlan, RRM I Ch. 18 at pp. 109-112, BMCRR Rome 3238. 18 mm., 3.83 g.



Roman Republic, C. Hosidius C.f. Geta, AR Denarius, 68 BCE. Obv. Draped bust of Diana R., wearing crown and stephane[?], with bow and quiver over shoulder, GETA before, III VIR behind/ Rev. Wild boar of Calydon r., pierced in shoulder by spear and attacked by hound beneath, C. HOSIDI C F in exergue. RSC I Hosidia 1 (ill.), Crawford 407/2, Sear RCV I 346 (ill.), Harlan, RRM I Ch. 32 at pp. 189-194, BMCRR Rome 3388. 18 mm., 3.91 g.



Roman Republic, Cn. Plancius, AR Denarius, 55 BCE, Rome mint. Obv. Female head (Macedonia [RCV, Crawford, & RRM II] or Diana Planciana [BMCRR & RSC]) right, wearing causia, CN. PLANCIVS before, AED. CVR. S. C. behind/ Rev. Cretan goat standing right, bow and quiver to left. RSC I Plancia 1, Crawford 432/1, Sydenham 933, Sear RCV I 396 (ill.), Harlan, RRM II Ch. 17 at pp. 141-144, BMCRR Rome 3920. 18 mm, 3.82 gm, 5h. SB Binder 8 RRC 432/1 (96-0, 97-0, 100, 101). Purchased from Eukratides Ancient Numismatics [Bradley J. Bowlin], Feb. 18, 2020. Ex. Davis & Clark, Paris, France, Jan. 27, 1975 (with “Certificat de Garantie” from Dr. Cahn, agreed expert, Basel.)



Gordian III AR Denarius, 241-242 AD, Rome mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, & cuirassed bust right, IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Rev. Diana standing facing, head right, holding flaming long torch right with both hands, DIANA LVCIFERA. RIC IV-3 127, RSC IV 69, Sear RCV III 8673 (ill.). 20 mm., 2.7 g., 6 h. (Issued in celebration of marriage of Gordian & Tranqullina, 241 AD. See Sear RCV III 8673 at p. 123.)

 

Excellent article!
Here are some of my Artemis coins
One bought with a total price of 5 EUR. Money well spent in my opinion


CILICIA. Soloi (ca 1st century BC) AE19
Obv: Head of Artemis right, wearing stephane.
Rev: ΣΟΛΕΩΝ - Double cornucopia; to left, Є above Θ.
Ziegler -; SNG BN 1209-10 var. (controls); SNG Levante 865 var. (same)
5,68 g, 19 mm

Here is one showing her and her brother


Seleukid Kingdom. Magnesia on the Maeander . Seleukos II Kallinikos 246-226 BC. Bronze Æ 17 mm., 4,02 g.
Obv: Head of Artemis right, [bow and quiver behind]
Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY.
Apollo standing left, testing arrow and resting bow on ground; all within maeander pattern. Controls: Monogram in field to outer right, two monograms in field to outer left.
SC 670.

A nice provincial



Lydia, Saitta, Faustina II, AD 147-175
16 mm, 3 g
Obv : ΦΑVϹΤƐΙΝΑ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, r. / ƐΠ Φ ΗΡΚΛΑΝΟV ϹΑΙΤΤΗΝΩΝ, Artemis standing, r., drawing arrow from quiver at shoulder, holding bow; to r., dog
RPC IV.2, 11561

This one does not show Artemis, but a cult statue of her. I am very glad for winning this coin - although cistophoric tetratrachms are considered by many collectors as "coins when you don't afford a true tetradrachm", I really wanted this one



Lydia. Tralleis circa 133 BC.
Cistophoric Tetradrachm AR
26 mm, 11,75 g
Magistrate Time. Cista mystica with serpent, within ivy wreath. / TΡAΛ to left of bowcase between two coiled serpents, TIME above, cult image of Artemis Anaitis standing front in right field. BMC 31-32; SNG von Aulock 8287; SNG Cop 661; Paris 2700-2701; SNG Leipzig 1269; Mionnet IV, 1026; Pinder 160; Whittall sale 1325b; GRPC Lydia S470

2 Republicans, first one - another coin that was on my wish list (a pity that the obverse is off center, losing an important part of the design...)



C. Hosidius C. f. Geta 68 BC. Rome. Denarius AR17 mm, 3,96 g
Obv: Diademed head of Diana draped right, bow and quiver at her shoulder GETA before, III. VIR behind. Rev.: The wild boar of Calydon right, pierced by spear and attacked by dog. C. HOSIDI. C.F. in exergue.
Crawford 407/2

And another one, with some flaws caused by imperfect strike that managed to ruin both the portrait and the reverse inscription ... but showing Diana and Apollo



P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus 42 BC. Rome
Denarius AR
19 mm, 3,81 g
Obv. Laureate head of Apollo right; behind, lyre.
Rev. P.CLODIVS – ·M·F, Diana standing facing, with bow and quiver over shoulder, holding lit torch in each hand.
Crawford 494/23; BMCRR Rome 4290.

 

WoWiE!!! It's already turning into quite the stag party
AWESOME Artemis action hero reverse @Roman Collector I can see why it's a fav

Ha! I had the exact same thought
I also wondered what the arrow looking thing that she is balancing her arrow on the bow with is?
Wonderful RRs as always. I planned on sharing a few of mine in the OP but there was just too much fun art:



Stellar additions @ambr0zie

I was just thinking about how cherry yours was and how much detail it had... at least compared to mine.

Who was the wimp in the mint that they had striking these?

 

My favourite Apollo and Artemis:

 

Enjoyed reading that, thanks.

My only coin with Artemis barely qualifies. She is a mere silhouette, but she is there on the chariot behind Apollo holding the reins, whist he's shooting an arrow.

Sicily, Selinus. Tetradrachm c. 425 BC.

 

My 2 Diana’s



Hostilius Saserna
48 BC



Clodius Turrinus
42 BC

 

Great coins and write-up, @ Ryro! I especially like the reverse on that provincial from Phyrgia.

Here is a big provincial bronze from Cilicia with busts of both Apollo and Artemis:


Trebonianus Gallus, Cilicia, Seleucia ad Calycadnum, 251-253 AD (AE, 32.5mm., 15.99g.), Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trebonianus Gallus to right/ Rev. Busts of Apollo and Artemis-Tyche facing each other

 

@Ryro.....Great looking coin!...Really interesting write up thanks!...
Aeolis, Kyme, c. 165-90 BC. Æ (16mm, 3.84g, 12h). Zoilos, magistrate.
Obverse...Draped bust of Artemis right, hair in sphendone, quiver and bow over shoulder.
Reverse...Single-handled oenoechoe (Kyme's cup) with KY above (Kyme), flanked either side by laurel branches.
Magistrates name left to right across central field Z-Ω / I-Λ / O-Σ..Zoilos.
SNG München 507-9; SNG Copenhagen 108; SNG von Aulock 1642.

 

ARTEMIS

Artemis - American West

Artemis Gordon (if you did not know...)


ARTEMIS - Greek

RI Prv Lydia Hierocaesarea 54-59 CE Capito under Nero Artemis STAG Leaping ? Throat Cutting RPC 1 2391-2


DIANA (Capua with Hannibal - NOT Roman)


Campania CAPUA AE Uncia 216-211 BCE Diana Boar Hannibal capital Italia SCARCE


DALI of KOLCHIS (Associated with Artemis)


Kolchis 5th-4th C BCE BI hemidrachm 11.5mm 1.8g Archaic female head - Georgian goddess Dali - Bull head border SNG Cop 98

She was the Hunting Goddess of the Kolchis / Colchis area
(think Jason and the Golden Fleece).
She was described as a beautiful nude woman with golden hair and glowing skin...

(She is not nude here...)



DIANA - Roman


RR Allius Bala 92 BCE AR Den Diana Biga Stags Sear 221 Craw336-1 scarce

 

@Alegandron,,,,That's a really nice Kolchis example!,,
Thanks for sharing.

 

Ephesos Octobol 340-325 BC Obv Bust of Artemis right draped wearing stephane quiver over shoulder. Rv Forepart of stag right head reverted. to left palm tree SNG Kayhan 263 4.79 grms 17 mm Photo by W. Hansen
If the current dating is correct this coin would have been minted some years after the destruction of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesos in 356 BC This coin though rather small has a magnificent image of the Goddess Artemis in a high Greek classical style. Modern reconstruction of the Temple of Artemis which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

 

Artemis & Headless Lion ( major flan flaw )
Massalia, Gaul

 

Ryro, Nice score on your recent addition & excellent article . My favorite coin of Artemis & Apollo is pictured below.

 

Thank you.

 

My favorite from Claudius II has been shown many times.


Diadumenian, Marcianopolis, 3 assaria

 

Great post! I love the new one from Hierocaesarea.


MACEDONIA, Roman Protectorate, First Meris
AR Tetradrachm. 16.84g, 32.7mm. MACEDONIA, First Meris, Amphipolis mint, circa 167 - 149 BC. SNG Cop 1313; Prokopov 127. O: Diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder, in the center of a Macedonian shield. R: Club; ΠPE (or ΠEP) monogram above, EP and ΠAP monograms below, MAKEΔONΩN above, ΠPΩTHΣ below; all within oak wreath, thunderbolt to left.


POPPAEA
AE17. 3.3g, 16.7mm. PHRYGIA, Acmoneia, circa AD 62. Lucius Servenius Capito, archon, with his wife Juia Severa. RPC I 3175. O: ΠOΠΠAIA CEBACTH, Draped bust of Poppaea to right, wearing wreath of grain ears; before, forepart of lion to right. R: CEPOYHNIOY KAΠITΩNOC - KAI IOYΛIAC / CEOYHPAC – AKMONEΩN, Artemis advancing right, holding bow in her left hand and drawing arrow from quiver with her right; to left, monogram; to right, monogram above lyre.


SALONINA
AE29. 9.26g, 29.5mm. IONIA, Ephesus, AD 254-268. Karwiese 1184 (this coin cited and illustrated). O: · CAΛΩN · XPVCOΓONH · CЄBA ·, diademed and draped bust right on crescent. R: EΦECIΩN Γ N-EΩ-KOPON, Artemis, standing facing, head right, raising right hand and holding bow; tree behind her, stag at her side.
Ex N. M. McQ. Holmes Collection; ex "Bavarian Collection" (Numismatic Fine Arts XXXI, 18 March 1993, lot 1141)


ANTONINUS PIUS
Billon Tetradrachm. 12.71g, 22.5mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 5 = AD 141/142. Dattari-Savio pl. 108, 8094 (this coin); Emmett 1362.5; RPC Online 14246 (2 spec., this coin cited). O: Laureate head left. R: L-E, Artemis advancing right, drawing arrow from quiver at shoulder, holding bow.
Ex Robert L. Grover Collection of Roman-Egyptian Coinage, previously held by the Art Institute of Chicago (1981.513); ex Giovanni Dattari Collection


PHRYGIA, Apameia
AE17. 4.0g, 17mm. PHRYGIA, Apameia, circa 88-40 BC. Philokrates, son of Aristeon, eglogistes. HGC 7, 674; SNG Cop 194; Klein 589 (this coin). O: Turreted bust of Artemis-Tyche right, bow and quiver over shoulder. R: AΠAMEΩN, Marsyas advancing right on maeander pattern, playing aulos; ΦIΛOKPAT/APIΣTEO in two lines on left.
Ex Dr. W.R. Collection (acquired in December 2004 from Hauck & Aufhäuser, Munich); ex Dieter Klein Collection, No. 589


ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Denarius. 4.03g, 18.8mm. Rome mint, 64 BC. C. Hosidius C.f. Geta, moneyer. Crawford 407/2. O: Draped bust of Diana right, wearing stephane, earring, and double necklace of pendants; bow and quiver over shoulder; III VIR down left, GETA down right. R: Calydonian Boar standing right, pierced by spear and harried by hound below; C HOSIDI C F in exergue.


ANTONINUS PIUS as Caesar
AR Denarius. 2.91g, 20.8mm. Rome mint, AD 138. RIC 447a (Hadrian). O: IMP T AEL CAES ANTONINVS, bare head right. R: TRIB POT COS, Diana standing right, holding bow and arrow.
Ex Archer M. Huntington Collection, previously held by the American Numismatic Society (1001.57.4904)


PLAUTILLA
AR Denarius. 3.13g, 20.2mm. Rome mint. AD 202-205. RIC IV 366 (Scarce). O: PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA, draped bust right. R: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing half left, bow on back, holding torch with both hands.

 

Hi folks. Since you all raised this subject, I'll try again to see if this coin can be identified. It was my very first mystery. I grant it is in bad shape. And it was my first photographic attempt. It was sold to me by a dubious seller as a: Janus (Provincial) Greek. (Covered in that dark black lacquer). The renown expert of another Forum, she said it was definitely NOT a Roman Janus. Under magnification it does appear that the Reverse is an image of Artemis with stag. She could not identify it however but suggested could be Alexander era? She suggested I post it to her Forum but for some unknown reason someone flagged it. Any ideas please?