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Fear and Labyrs in Las Knosos and a rare little macedonian shield coin
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<p>[QUOTE="Ryro, post: 3776545, member: 91461"]The word labyrs (also known as double headed axe or bipennis) comes from the word labyrinth (oh, how I WISH I had a labyrinth coin to share with you).</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Bronze_Ax_Messara_Crete.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>(<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age" rel="nofollow">Bronze Age</a> axe from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tholoi" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tholoi" rel="nofollow">tholos</a> tombs of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messara_Plain" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messara_Plain" rel="nofollow">Messara</a> in Crete.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Wikipedia says, "<b><i>Labrys</i></b> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language" rel="nofollow">Greek</a>: λάβρυς, <i><i>lábrus</i></i>) is, according to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch" rel="nofollow">Plutarch</a> (<i>Quaestiones Graecae</i> 2.302a), the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydian_language" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydian_language" rel="nofollow">Lydian word</a> for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe#Parts_of_the_axe" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe#Parts_of_the_axe" rel="nofollow">double-bitted</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe" rel="nofollow">axe</a> called in Greek a πέλεκυς (<i>pélekus</i>). The relation with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth" rel="nofollow">labyrinth</a> is uncertain.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrys#cite_note-1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrys#cite_note-1" rel="nofollow">[1]"</a></p><p><br /></p><p>But they are mistaken! The relation to labyrinth is very well known to us ancientaholics! It is thanks to the many double headed battle axes that adorned and decorated the walls of the palace/labyrinth (ie, house of the double axe) at Knossos that the word is derived.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.aT8QNgc-267GCsyh2wPGuAHaHa&pid=Api&rs=1" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>(aerial view of Knossos. It really is a-<i>maze</i>-ing<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />)</p><p><br /></p><p>I think we can all agree that labyrs are pretty bad @$$. I have always been happy when a coin of mine has one as a minor motif. Though, I have never outright sought out a coin specifically for the labyrs...until now<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie9" alt=":eek:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie57" alt=":jawdrop:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie96" alt=":vomit:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />!!!</p><p>A little back story before the coin, as you all know I have been ga-ga for MSCs (Macedonian shield coins) as of late. And it has been such a wonderful journey and type to collect. But there are a few that just don't come by very often. Some that I have let slip through my fingers and some that I didn't even pay attention to when they were right in front of me. The MSC featuring a Labyrs in the boss (center of shield where the strap was attached) is one such coin.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJx3nl7iOfU/UKvynl_Xg2I/AAAAAAAAAMg/7Smc0dWd9n4/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/5133_holygrail.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>CNG has only one sold ($180 before fees in 2011 and then sold the same coin in 2018 for $125) and only 2 are listed on AC search (1 of which being the aforementioned CNG coin).</p><p>So, when this coin showed up for a paltry $12 on Ebay, I immediately jumped on it and of course offered the seller $6 (you know I would gladly pay $12! But you give me a make an offer and, well...being frugal is a genetic disease and it is for life!). He offered $10. It being any other coin and I am all about a $7.50 offer but threw him an $8.75 to not let this bad boy slip away. He excepted and I had an extra 3 hamburgers, one with <i>cheese</i>.</p><p>I will post the sellers and my photos so that you can see that I had a small battle with BD to win (distilled water + sawed off tooth brush a few times followed by some Verdicare love):</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1009373[/ATTACH]</p><p>(Before)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1009374[/ATTACH]</p><p>(After. Much better in hand but the dark patina mixed with just a how tiny this guy is spell nightmare to get a good pic of)</p><p><br /></p><p>Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. Æ Quarter Unit (10mm, 1.26 g, 6h). Miletos(?) mint. Struck under Asandros, circa 323-319 BC. Macedonian shield; boss with labrys / Macedonian helmet; K to lower left. Price 2067</p><p><br /></p><p>Pretty cool to see that coins minted after the death of Alexander showed the juice due his "special" brother, Philip III, with the "BA" on the reverse, denoting him as Βασιλιά = King (something that was taken off of the Diadochi's MCDs for many years to show reverence to Alexander The Great).</p><p><br /></p><p>And of course you don't bring labyrs unless you have brought enough to share with the class:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1009375[/ATTACH]</p><p><b><u>Thyateira, Lydia</u></b></p><p>AD 1-100, AE14, semi-autonomous issue. Bearded head of Herakles right / ΘYATEIΡHNΩN, bipennis (double-axe; labrys). BMC 8; RPC I 2379; SNG Tuebingen 3838. Holed</p><p><br /></p><p>Labyrs show up on reverses of MCDs as well:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1009378[/ATTACH]</p><p><u>Alexander III 'the Great'</u></p><p>(336-323 BC). Ae 1/4 Unit. Kaunos.</p><p>Obv: Macedonian shield, with facing gorgoneion on boss.</p><p>Rev: B - A. Helmet; labrys to left, K to right.</p><p>Price 2065; cf. HGC 3.1, 958a (1/2 unit; Alexander IV).</p><p>Condition: Extremely fine. Weight: 2.02 g. Diameter: 14 mm.</p><p><br /></p><p>Does my bipennis look crooked?<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1009381[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Demetrios I Poliorketes</u></b></p><p>Kings of Macedon.</p><p>306-283 BC. AE (13mm, 2.36g). Uncertain mint (possibly in Caria), 306-283 BC. Head of Athena right in crested Corinthian helmet / B A, prow right; above, BA; to right, bipennis?; below. SNG Alpha Bank 956 ; SNG Cop 1185.</p><p>Former: Kairos</p><p><br /></p><p>And just for fun, here is most of my MSCs!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1009396[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1009397[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1009398[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1009399[/ATTACH]</p><p>Please share all your double axes, bipenni, Labyrses (or labyrinths if you got em!), MSCs or really anything that will add to this thread.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Ryro, post: 3776545, member: 91461"]The word labyrs (also known as double headed axe or bipennis) comes from the word labyrinth (oh, how I WISH I had a labyrinth coin to share with you). [IMG]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Bronze_Ax_Messara_Crete.jpg[/IMG] ([URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age']Bronze Age[/URL] axe from the [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tholoi']tholos[/URL] tombs of [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messara_Plain']Messara[/URL] in Crete.) Wikipedia says, "[B][I]Labrys[/I][/B] ([URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language']Greek[/URL]: λάβρυς, [I][I]lábrus[/I][/I]) is, according to [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch']Plutarch[/URL] ([I]Quaestiones Graecae[/I] 2.302a), the [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydian_language']Lydian word[/URL] for the [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe#Parts_of_the_axe']double-bitted[/URL] [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe']axe[/URL] called in Greek a πέλεκυς ([I]pélekus[/I]). The relation with the [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth']labyrinth[/URL] is uncertain.[URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrys#cite_note-1'][1]"[/URL] But they are mistaken! The relation to labyrinth is very well known to us ancientaholics! It is thanks to the many double headed battle axes that adorned and decorated the walls of the palace/labyrinth (ie, house of the double axe) at Knossos that the word is derived. [IMG]https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.aT8QNgc-267GCsyh2wPGuAHaHa&pid=Api&rs=1[/IMG] (aerial view of Knossos. It really is a-[I]maze[/I]-ing;)) I think we can all agree that labyrs are pretty bad @$$. I have always been happy when a coin of mine has one as a minor motif. Though, I have never outright sought out a coin specifically for the labyrs...until now:eek::jawdrop::vomit:!!! A little back story before the coin, as you all know I have been ga-ga for MSCs (Macedonian shield coins) as of late. And it has been such a wonderful journey and type to collect. But there are a few that just don't come by very often. Some that I have let slip through my fingers and some that I didn't even pay attention to when they were right in front of me. The MSC featuring a Labyrs in the boss (center of shield where the strap was attached) is one such coin. [IMG]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJx3nl7iOfU/UKvynl_Xg2I/AAAAAAAAAMg/7Smc0dWd9n4/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/5133_holygrail.jpg[/IMG] CNG has only one sold ($180 before fees in 2011 and then sold the same coin in 2018 for $125) and only 2 are listed on AC search (1 of which being the aforementioned CNG coin). So, when this coin showed up for a paltry $12 on Ebay, I immediately jumped on it and of course offered the seller $6 (you know I would gladly pay $12! But you give me a make an offer and, well...being frugal is a genetic disease and it is for life!). He offered $10. It being any other coin and I am all about a $7.50 offer but threw him an $8.75 to not let this bad boy slip away. He excepted and I had an extra 3 hamburgers, one with [I]cheese[/I]. I will post the sellers and my photos so that you can see that I had a small battle with BD to win (distilled water + sawed off tooth brush a few times followed by some Verdicare love): [ATTACH=full]1009373[/ATTACH] (Before) [ATTACH=full]1009374[/ATTACH] (After. Much better in hand but the dark patina mixed with just a how tiny this guy is spell nightmare to get a good pic of) Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. Æ Quarter Unit (10mm, 1.26 g, 6h). Miletos(?) mint. Struck under Asandros, circa 323-319 BC. Macedonian shield; boss with labrys / Macedonian helmet; K to lower left. Price 2067 Pretty cool to see that coins minted after the death of Alexander showed the juice due his "special" brother, Philip III, with the "BA" on the reverse, denoting him as Βασιλιά = King (something that was taken off of the Diadochi's MCDs for many years to show reverence to Alexander The Great). And of course you don't bring labyrs unless you have brought enough to share with the class: [ATTACH=full]1009375[/ATTACH] [B][U]Thyateira, Lydia[/U][/B] AD 1-100, AE14, semi-autonomous issue. Bearded head of Herakles right / ΘYATEIΡHNΩN, bipennis (double-axe; labrys). BMC 8; RPC I 2379; SNG Tuebingen 3838. Holed Labyrs show up on reverses of MCDs as well: [ATTACH=full]1009378[/ATTACH] [U]Alexander III 'the Great'[/U] (336-323 BC). Ae 1/4 Unit. Kaunos. Obv: Macedonian shield, with facing gorgoneion on boss. Rev: B - A. Helmet; labrys to left, K to right. Price 2065; cf. HGC 3.1, 958a (1/2 unit; Alexander IV). Condition: Extremely fine. Weight: 2.02 g. Diameter: 14 mm. Does my bipennis look crooked?:D;) [ATTACH=full]1009381[/ATTACH] [B][U]Demetrios I Poliorketes[/U][/B] Kings of Macedon. 306-283 BC. AE (13mm, 2.36g). Uncertain mint (possibly in Caria), 306-283 BC. Head of Athena right in crested Corinthian helmet / B A, prow right; above, BA; to right, bipennis?; below. SNG Alpha Bank 956 ; SNG Cop 1185. Former: Kairos And just for fun, here is most of my MSCs! [ATTACH=full]1009396[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1009397[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1009398[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1009399[/ATTACH] Please share all your double axes, bipenni, Labyrses (or labyrinths if you got em!), MSCs or really anything that will add to this thread.[/QUOTE]
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