Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;zumbly, post: 2474124, member: 57495&quot;]I was drawn to this little obol of Larissa mainly because of the charming reverse scene, showing the city&#039;s eponymous nymph bouncing a ball in a carefree moment.&nbsp; As it turns out, the scene may actually have a little story of its own to tell, albeit a somewhat unfortunate one... </p><p><br /></p><p>According to one tradition, Larissa was the daughter of Pelasgus, primordial king of the Pelasgians, who while playing with her ball along the banks of the river Peneios, slipped, fell into the river, and drowned.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>The most well-known coins of Larissa are the 4th century drachms with her facing head on the obverse, inspired in style by the Syracusan tetradrachms of Kimon.&nbsp; Less ubiquitous are a series of obols that have her carrying a hydria and with a lion&#039;s head fountain behind her, indicating that she was venerated at the city as a fountain nymph.&nbsp; I know some of you guys have examples of these, so please show &#039;em.&nbsp; And of course, please feel free to post any other coins of Larissa as well! </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]521070[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>THESSALY, Larissa </b></p><p>AR Obol. 0.95g, 11.4mm. THESSALY, Larissa, circa 440-400 BC. BCD I -; BCD II -; CNG EAuction 292, 5 December 2012, 38 (same obverse die?); cf. BMC 24. O: Horse to right; above, crescent to right; below, dolphin to right. R: Λ - A, the nymph Larissa striding left, bouncing a ball off the ground with her right hand; all within shallow incuse square.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Note:</b> The second part of the subject I used for this thread is copped from <a href="http://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=139947" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=139947" rel="nofollow">this</a> CNG auction lot. Let it not be said that auction house cataloguers have no sense of humour <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in