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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Mikey Zee, post: 2755145, member: 72818&quot;]Baaltar refers to Baal of Tarsos---the same city of Tarsus where Saint Paul of the New Testament would be born centuries later. Baal is probably more familiar than most of us realize since there are numerous references to this semitic deity within the Old Testament. Numerous city-states in the Levant worshipped Baal in varying ways, differing in the powers and associations of this god. Tarsos attributed Baal with an eagle, clearly reminiscent of the Greek Deity Zeus, father of the gods. While I was aware Baal was a semitic deity worshipped throughout the Levant, I was surprised to discover that&nbsp; he was also worshipped from Egypt to as far as Cappadocia, modern day Turkey.</p><p><br /></p><p>This silver stater was struck under the authority of the Persian Satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia, Mazaios, circa 334 BC---just prior to the invasion and conquest of the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great. The coin itself depicts an enthroned Baal, three animals and even grapes and grain---and Aramaic script----increasing my animal menagerie by nearly a third in one &#039;swoop&#039;... and adding my very first example of Baal. It seems this coin has at least three notable flaws: it&#039;s relatively pricey, a bit off center on the reverse and exhibits somewhat distracting rough edges, particularly below Baal---the latter issue probably permitted me to win this coin at the initial required bid, substantially below estimate and even hundreds less than this precise coin previously sold at auction. I love the sharp devices, each exhibiting the benefit of fresh dies when this stater was struck---so how could I resist it?? Not to mention it is wonderful in hand!!<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie54" alt=":hungry:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Below, I have provided three convenient links for those wishing to read more about Mazaios, Baal and the city of Tarsus:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazaios" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazaios" rel="nofollow">https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazaios</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal</a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsus,_Mersin" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsus,_Mersin" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsus,_Mersin</a></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]631940[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]631941[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>CILICIA, Tarsos. Mazaios. Satrap of Cilicia, 361/0-334 BC. AR Stater (24mm, 10.93 g, 6h). Baaltars seated left, holding eagle, grain ear, grapes, and scepter; TR (in Aramaic) to lower left, M (in Aramaic) below throne / Lion attacking bull left; monogram below. Casabonne Series 2, Group C; SNG BN –; SNG Levante 106. EF, toned.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please feel free to pile on in anyway that seems relevant<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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