Not my coin (from CNG's archives) CNG 105, Lot: 129. Estimate $3000. Sold for $11000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. CRETE, Knossos. Circa 425-360 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 10.85 g). Minotaur running left / Labyrinth in incuse square with deeper squares at corners. Svoronos, Numismatique, Addenda, 14 var. (Minotaur right); Le Rider, Crétoises, pl. XXIV, 26; SNG Copenhagen –; Lanz 163, lot 72 (same rev. die). VF, toned, smoothed and details enhanced. Crude style. Rare. From the Collection of a Director. Ex Kricheldorf 30 (5 April 1976), lot 114. From ACsearch, New York Sale XXVII lot 407, hammer 110,000 USD:
"Many early numismatist thought the man-faced bull was the Minotaur. In my work, I argue that it is always a local embodiment of Acheloios."N.M.- I'm not sufficiently knowledgeable to argue one way or another about this. But could it be possible that more than one author has taken on the topic, and inoculated it with his own interpretations ? Both in ancient times, and leading up to our times ? As a simple example, Picasso has included Greek mythology (unless I am mistaken) in numerous paintings. Let me mention a few quotes from mythology literature. "Acheloos is variously described as bull-shaped or protean, taking the forms of a bull, a snake and a man with a bull's face." - "In all cases but one, Acheloos has the body of a bull, sometimes with a human face, sometimes with a human torso attached centaur-like."- "On one Attic red-figure vase fromabout 520 he has the triton-like body of a fish."- "It is common knowledge that immortal Achelous appears in three forms: as a bull, as a speckled serpent, and as a bull-headed man." Your comments will be appreciated, let me just remind you that Ihave fishedaround for those quotes, but have very little knowledge about Greek mythology.