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Faustina Friday -- Ephesian Artemis on an Æ 20 of Aezani
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<p>[QUOTE="Roman Collector, post: 6249487, member: 75937"]Aezani (Greek Αἰζανοί) in northern Phrygia, near the headwaters of the Rhyndacus, was a political and economic center of modest importance in pagan times but became a notable bishopric during the Constantinian and Byzantine eras. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1247369[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">From "Asia citerior," Auctore Henrico Kiepert Berolinensi. Geographische Verlagshandlung Dietrich Reimer (Ernst Vohsen) Berlin, Wilhemlstr. 29. (1903). <a href="https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~34460~1180072:Asia-citerior--Auctore-Henrico-Kiep" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~34460~1180072:Asia-citerior--Auctore-Henrico-Kiep" rel="nofollow">David Rumsey Historical Map Collection</a>.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>Ruins of the ancient city include a well-preserved Temple of Zeus, a combined theater-<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadium#History" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadium#History" rel="nofollow">stadium</a> complex, and colonnaded streets.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1247370[/ATTACH]<font size="3"> One of a series of pictures taken to show the exterior of the Zeus Temple in Azanoi. Photo by Dosseman, used without alterations and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aizanoi_Zeus_temple_2225.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aizanoi_Zeus_temple_2225.jpg" rel="nofollow">with permission</a>.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1247371[/ATTACH]<font size="3"> Aizanoi Theater June 2008. Photo by Dosseman, used without alterations and <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aizanoi_Theatre_june_2008_2290.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aizanoi_Theatre_june_2008_2290.jpg" rel="nofollow">with permission</a>.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1247372[/ATTACH] <font size="3">Aizanoi colonnaded street June 2008. Photo by Dosseman, used without alterations and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aizanoi_Colonnaded_street_june_2008_2331.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aizanoi_Colonnaded_street_june_2008_2331.jpg" rel="nofollow">with permission</a>.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>Coins bearing three reverse types are known bearing the obverse portrait of Faustina II, of apparently the same denomination (~20 mm, ~5 g). A coin certainly issued under Antoninus Pius (<a href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/1674" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/1674" rel="nofollow">RPC IV.2 1674</a>) bears the obverse inscription ΦΑΥϹΤΙИΑ ΝЄΑ (“Faustina Junior”) and a portrait with an early hairstyle paired with a reverse type featuring Asklepios standing. Two later issues bear the obverse inscription ΦΑΥϹΤΙΝΑ ϹЄΒΑϹΤΗ (“Faustina Augusta”) and a portrait featuring Faustina’s middle-period hairstyle – a combination used on imperial issues between AD 158 and 161. These two coins have reverse types featuring Apollo (<a href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/1677" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/1677" rel="nofollow">RPC IV.2 1677</a>) and Ephesian Artemis (<a href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/1678" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/1678" rel="nofollow">RPC IV.2 1678</a>).</p><p><br /></p><p>The goddess Artemis of Ephesus (Diana in Roman mythology), was not the quite the same as the one worshipped in Greece. The Greek Artemis was the goddess of hunting and is often depicted with stags. The Artemis of Ephesus, however, was the product of syncretism between aspects of Artemis and of Cybele and was therefore worshipped as a goddess of fertility. She was often depicted as a female figure with multiple breasts, which were the symbols of fertility, from her waist to the shoulders, with bulls, deer, queen bees, eggs, and other fertility symbols everywhere. Note the presence of lions, which indicate syncretism with Cybele, and the presence of stags at her side, which are an aspect of Greek Artemis.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1247374[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">Replica of the cult statue of Artemis of Ephesus. In the Ephesus Museum. Photo source: <a href="https://www.vangoghgenova.it/artemis-of-ephesus.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.vangoghgenova.it/artemis-of-ephesus.html" rel="nofollow">Van Gogh Alive</a>.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>This coin’s reverse is very similar to the cult statue of Artemis in Ephesus. No traces of a temple to Artemis (an Artemision) have been found among the ruins of the city and the purpose of the goddess’ appearance on this coin remains a matter of conjecture. It’s entirely possible the city boasted temples to Apollo, Asklepios and Artemis as featured on its coins, but such temples may have been repurposed under Christianity in later centuries.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1247375[/ATTACH] </p><blockquote><p><font size="3">Faustina II, AD 147-175.</font></p><p><font size="3">Roman Æ 20.3 mm, 5.89 g.</font></p><p><font size="3">Phrygia, Aezani, c. AD 158-161.</font></p><p><font size="3">Obv: ΦΑΥϹΤΙΝΑ ϹЄΒΑϹΤΗ, bare-headed and draped bust, right.</font></p><p><font size="3">Rev: ΑΙΖΑΝ-ЄΙΤΩΝ, cult statue of Artemis of Ephesus standing facing wearing kalathos, hands resting on supports.</font></p><p><font size="3">Refs: RPC IV.2 1678 (temporary); BMC 25.39,117; SNG Cop 101.</font></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>Let’s see your coins of Aezani, coins featuring Ephesian Artemis, or anything you feel is relevant![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Roman Collector, post: 6249487, member: 75937"]Aezani (Greek Αἰζανοί) in northern Phrygia, near the headwaters of the Rhyndacus, was a political and economic center of modest importance in pagan times but became a notable bishopric during the Constantinian and Byzantine eras. [ATTACH=full]1247369[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]From "Asia citerior," Auctore Henrico Kiepert Berolinensi. Geographische Verlagshandlung Dietrich Reimer (Ernst Vohsen) Berlin, Wilhemlstr. 29. (1903). [URL='https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~34460~1180072:Asia-citerior--Auctore-Henrico-Kiep']David Rumsey Historical Map Collection[/URL].[/SIZE] Ruins of the ancient city include a well-preserved Temple of Zeus, a combined theater-[URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadium#History']stadium[/URL] complex, and colonnaded streets. [ATTACH=full]1247370[/ATTACH][SIZE=3] One of a series of pictures taken to show the exterior of the Zeus Temple in Azanoi. Photo by Dosseman, used without alterations and [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aizanoi_Zeus_temple_2225.jpg']with permission[/URL].[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1247371[/ATTACH][SIZE=3] Aizanoi Theater June 2008. Photo by Dosseman, used without alterations and [URL='https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aizanoi_Theatre_june_2008_2290.jpg']with permission[/URL].[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1247372[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Aizanoi colonnaded street June 2008. Photo by Dosseman, used without alterations and [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aizanoi_Colonnaded_street_june_2008_2331.jpg']with permission[/URL].[/SIZE] Coins bearing three reverse types are known bearing the obverse portrait of Faustina II, of apparently the same denomination (~20 mm, ~5 g). A coin certainly issued under Antoninus Pius ([URL='https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/1674']RPC IV.2 1674[/URL]) bears the obverse inscription ΦΑΥϹΤΙИΑ ΝЄΑ (“Faustina Junior”) and a portrait with an early hairstyle paired with a reverse type featuring Asklepios standing. Two later issues bear the obverse inscription ΦΑΥϹΤΙΝΑ ϹЄΒΑϹΤΗ (“Faustina Augusta”) and a portrait featuring Faustina’s middle-period hairstyle – a combination used on imperial issues between AD 158 and 161. These two coins have reverse types featuring Apollo ([URL='https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/1677']RPC IV.2 1677[/URL]) and Ephesian Artemis ([URL='https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/1678']RPC IV.2 1678[/URL]). The goddess Artemis of Ephesus (Diana in Roman mythology), was not the quite the same as the one worshipped in Greece. The Greek Artemis was the goddess of hunting and is often depicted with stags. The Artemis of Ephesus, however, was the product of syncretism between aspects of Artemis and of Cybele and was therefore worshipped as a goddess of fertility. She was often depicted as a female figure with multiple breasts, which were the symbols of fertility, from her waist to the shoulders, with bulls, deer, queen bees, eggs, and other fertility symbols everywhere. Note the presence of lions, which indicate syncretism with Cybele, and the presence of stags at her side, which are an aspect of Greek Artemis. [ATTACH=full]1247374[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Replica of the cult statue of Artemis of Ephesus. In the Ephesus Museum. Photo source: [URL='https://www.vangoghgenova.it/artemis-of-ephesus.html']Van Gogh Alive[/URL].[/SIZE] This coin’s reverse is very similar to the cult statue of Artemis in Ephesus. No traces of a temple to Artemis (an Artemision) have been found among the ruins of the city and the purpose of the goddess’ appearance on this coin remains a matter of conjecture. It’s entirely possible the city boasted temples to Apollo, Asklepios and Artemis as featured on its coins, but such temples may have been repurposed under Christianity in later centuries. [ATTACH=full]1247375[/ATTACH] [INDENT][SIZE=3]Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman Æ 20.3 mm, 5.89 g. Phrygia, Aezani, c. AD 158-161. Obv: ΦΑΥϹΤΙΝΑ ϹЄΒΑϹΤΗ, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: ΑΙΖΑΝ-ЄΙΤΩΝ, cult statue of Artemis of Ephesus standing facing wearing kalathos, hands resting on supports. Refs: RPC IV.2 1678 (temporary); BMC 25.39,117; SNG Cop 101.[/SIZE][/INDENT] Let’s see your coins of Aezani, coins featuring Ephesian Artemis, or anything you feel is relevant![/QUOTE]
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