The Λεον Νεμειος (Nemean Lion) was an enormous lion who was the offspring of Orthros, a two-headed, serpent-tailed dog, and Chimera, a fire-breathing creature with the body and head of a lion, a goat's head rising from its back, the udders of a goat, and a serpent for a tail (Hesiod Theogony 327). Its hide was impervious to all human weapons and it ravished the city of Nemea. King Eurystheus of Argolis commanded Herakles to destroy the beast as the first of his twelve labors. Herakles cornered the lion in its cave and seized it by the neck and wrestled it to death. He then skinned its hide to make a lion-skin cape, one of his most distinctive attributes. Hera afterwards placed the lion among the stars as the constellation Leo. Here are a pair of tiny provincial bronzes from Marcianopolis -- probably the diassarion denomination -- that feature husband and wife and mirror images of the same reverse type: Herakles wrestling the Nemean lion. Post anything you feel is relevant! Septimius Severus, AD 193-211. Roman provincial Æ 18.6 mm, 4.37 g, 7 h. Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, AD 193-211. Obv: ΑV Κ CΕΠΤΙ CΕΥΗΡΟC Π, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: MAPKIA-NOΠOΛITΩ-N, Herakles standing left, wrestling the Nemean lion. Refs: AMNG I 585 v.; Varbanov 710; Moushmov 397; H&J 6.14.14.5-6; Mionnet Suppl. 2, 126. Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman provincial Æ 16.8 mm, 4.33 g, 1 h. Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, AD 193-211. Obv: IOVΛIA ΔO-MNA CEB, bare-headed and draped bust right. Rev: MAPKIANOΠOΛITΩN, Herakles standing right, wrestling the Nemean lion. Refs: AMNG I 606; Varbanov 673; Moushmov 419; SNG Copenhagen --; SNG Budapest --.
+1 And here's mamma... SIKYONIA, Sikyon AR Stater. 11.98g, 24.2mm. SIKYONIA, Sikyon, circa 431-400 BC. BCD Peloponnesos 186; HGC 5, 181. O: Chimaera standing left; ΣE below. R: Dove flying left within wreath. Ex BCD Collection; ex Coin Galleries Mail Bid Sale, 10 February 1993, lot 80
Cool coins! Here's a lion I've never posted. The patina is a bit thick, but he's in there... Antoninus Pius, AE Drachm, Alexandria. 34mm, 18.54g, AD 144/5, RPC 13547 Obverse: Laureate bust of Antoninus Pius to right Reverse: L H, Zodiac, Helios in Leo; radiate and draped head of Helios right; below, lion running right; before, star.
How did I miss this wonderful write up?! I love this story and all of Heracles labors, trials and tribulations. Here’s mine that begs for an upgrade:
