Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Lydian Moon God - Meis Axiottenos
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="Sulla80, post: 4275539, member: 99456"][ATTACH=full]1088136[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="1"><a href="https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=375781001&objectId=463787&partId=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=375781001&objectId=463787&partId=1" rel="nofollow">Image - Creative Commons License from the British Museum</a></font></p><p>Mēn, illustrated in this marble Roman relief from the 2nd Century AD, is the Moon god of Roman Anatolia, perhaps connected with the Mesopotamian moon god Sin which was also a male lunar god. The Roman Luna was female. The deity is portrayed with a crescent moon behind his shoulders and wearing a phrygian cap. Strabo describes a temple of Mēn of Pharnaces:</p><p><br /></p><p><font size="3">"And the kings revered this temple so exceedingly that they proclaimed the "royal" oath as follows: "By the Fortune of the king and by Mēn of Pharnaces." And this is also the temple of Selenê, like that among the Albanians and those in Phrygia, I mean that of Mēn in the place of the same name and that of Mēn Ascaeus near the Antiocheia that is near Pisidia and that of Mēn in the country of the Antiocheians."</font></p><p><font size="3">-<a href="https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/12C*.html#p431" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/12C*.html#p431" rel="nofollow">Strabo, Geography XII p.557</a></font></p><p><br /></p><p>Meis Axiottenos is the local Lydian manifestation of this deity. The Roman province of Lydia was in western Asia minor in modern Turkey. The map below shows roughly the location of ancient Axiotta where there was a sanctuary of Meis Artemidorou Axiottenos and his mother, "Great Mother".(<a href="https://www.academia.edu/8625470/The_Cult_of_Meis_Axiottenos_in_Lydia_in_M.-P._de_Hoz_J.P._S%C3%A1nchez_and_C._Molina_eds._Between_Tarhuntas_and_Zeus_Polieus_Cultural_Crossroads_in_the_Temples_and_Cults_of_Graeco-Roman_Anatolia_Colloquia_Antiqua_17_2016_151-169" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.academia.edu/8625470/The_Cult_of_Meis_Axiottenos_in_Lydia_in_M.-P._de_Hoz_J.P._S%C3%A1nchez_and_C._Molina_eds._Between_Tarhuntas_and_Zeus_Polieus_Cultural_Crossroads_in_the_Temples_and_Cults_of_Graeco-Roman_Anatolia_Colloquia_Antiqua_17_2016_151-169" rel="nofollow">*</a>)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1088141[/ATTACH]</p><p>Stelae, inscribed stone slabs or columns, have been found that “both advertise a divinity’s power and warn others either explicitly or implicitly against committing a religious transgression, which is accomplished by recounting how a worshiper had suffered an ailment that was believed to be linked to an offense against the god or goddess, and which only had disappeared after proper amends had been made”(<a href="https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2018/2018.12.10" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2018/2018.12.10" rel="nofollow">*</a>).</p><p><br /></p><p>This rare coin from <a href="https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Setae_(Lydia)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Setae_(Lydia)" rel="nofollow">Saitta, Lydia</a> (near modern İcikler, Turkey) located between the River Hermus and its tributary Hyllus, depicts Mēn Aziottenos on the obverse and Apollo on the reverse. Saitta (CAITTHNΩN) is the only city to use Axiottenos (AΞIOTTENOΣ) together with the god's bust on its coins (<a href="https://www.academia.edu/8625470/The_Cult_of_Meis_Axiottenos_in_Lydia_in_M.-P._de_Hoz_J.P._S%C3%A1nchez_and_C._Molina_eds._Between_Tarhuntas_and_Zeus_Polieus_Cultural_Crossroads_in_the_Temples_and_Cults_of_Graeco-Roman_Anatolia_Colloquia_Antiqua_17_2016_151-169" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.academia.edu/8625470/The_Cult_of_Meis_Axiottenos_in_Lydia_in_M.-P._de_Hoz_J.P._S%C3%A1nchez_and_C._Molina_eds._Between_Tarhuntas_and_Zeus_Polieus_Cultural_Crossroads_in_the_Temples_and_Cults_of_Graeco-Roman_Anatolia_Colloquia_Antiqua_17_2016_151-169" rel="nofollow">*</a>).</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1088148[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="4"><b>Saitta, Lydia</b>, Pseudo-autonomous, AE17, 1/3 Assarion, time of Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Obv:</b> Bust of Mēn Axiottenos on crescent right, wearing Phrygian cap</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Rev: </b>CAITTHNΩN, Apollo standing facing, head to left, holding branch in his right hand and leaning left on bow set on ground</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Size: </b>2.26g, 16.3mm</font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Ref: </b>SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC 17; Lindgren I 789; <a href="http://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=6106" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=6106" rel="nofollow">Asia Minor Coins Online AMCO #6106</a> </font></p><p><font size="4"><b>Note: </b>Although I don't have a copy of Lindgren to confirm, AMCO states that the reference coins share the same dies as this coin, as does <a href="http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/lydia/saitta/BMC_17.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/lydia/saitta/BMC_17.jpg" rel="nofollow">this one</a> at wildwinds. I haven't seen a nicer example so far.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>As always, any corrections or additions to the above are much appreciated. <b>Post coins of lunar gods, late 2nd or early 3rd century coins of western Anatolia, or anything else you find interesting or entertaining. </b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Sulla80, post: 4275539, member: 99456"][ATTACH=full]1088136[/ATTACH] [SIZE=1][URL='https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=375781001&objectId=463787&partId=1']Image - Creative Commons License from the British Museum[/URL][/SIZE] Mēn, illustrated in this marble Roman relief from the 2nd Century AD, is the Moon god of Roman Anatolia, perhaps connected with the Mesopotamian moon god Sin which was also a male lunar god. The Roman Luna was female. The deity is portrayed with a crescent moon behind his shoulders and wearing a phrygian cap. Strabo describes a temple of Mēn of Pharnaces: [SIZE=3]"And the kings revered this temple so exceedingly that they proclaimed the "royal" oath as follows: "By the Fortune of the king and by Mēn of Pharnaces." And this is also the temple of Selenê, like that among the Albanians and those in Phrygia, I mean that of Mēn in the place of the same name and that of Mēn Ascaeus near the Antiocheia that is near Pisidia and that of Mēn in the country of the Antiocheians." -[URL='https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/12C*.html#p431']Strabo, Geography XII p.557[/URL][/SIZE] Meis Axiottenos is the local Lydian manifestation of this deity. The Roman province of Lydia was in western Asia minor in modern Turkey. The map below shows roughly the location of ancient Axiotta where there was a sanctuary of Meis Artemidorou Axiottenos and his mother, "Great Mother".([URL='https://www.academia.edu/8625470/The_Cult_of_Meis_Axiottenos_in_Lydia_in_M.-P._de_Hoz_J.P._S%C3%A1nchez_and_C._Molina_eds._Between_Tarhuntas_and_Zeus_Polieus_Cultural_Crossroads_in_the_Temples_and_Cults_of_Graeco-Roman_Anatolia_Colloquia_Antiqua_17_2016_151-169']*[/URL]) [ATTACH=full]1088141[/ATTACH] Stelae, inscribed stone slabs or columns, have been found that “both advertise a divinity’s power and warn others either explicitly or implicitly against committing a religious transgression, which is accomplished by recounting how a worshiper had suffered an ailment that was believed to be linked to an offense against the god or goddess, and which only had disappeared after proper amends had been made”([URL='https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2018/2018.12.10']*[/URL]). This rare coin from [URL='https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Setae_(Lydia)']Saitta, Lydia[/URL] (near modern İcikler, Turkey) located between the River Hermus and its tributary Hyllus, depicts Mēn Aziottenos on the obverse and Apollo on the reverse. Saitta (CAITTHNΩN) is the only city to use Axiottenos (AΞIOTTENOΣ) together with the god's bust on its coins ([URL='https://www.academia.edu/8625470/The_Cult_of_Meis_Axiottenos_in_Lydia_in_M.-P._de_Hoz_J.P._S%C3%A1nchez_and_C._Molina_eds._Between_Tarhuntas_and_Zeus_Polieus_Cultural_Crossroads_in_the_Temples_and_Cults_of_Graeco-Roman_Anatolia_Colloquia_Antiqua_17_2016_151-169']*[/URL]). [ATTACH=full]1088148[/ATTACH] [SIZE=4][B]Saitta, Lydia[/B], Pseudo-autonomous, AE17, 1/3 Assarion, time of Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD [B]Obv:[/B] Bust of Mēn Axiottenos on crescent right, wearing Phrygian cap [B]Rev: [/B]CAITTHNΩN, Apollo standing facing, head to left, holding branch in his right hand and leaning left on bow set on ground [B]Size: [/B]2.26g, 16.3mm [B]Ref: [/B]SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC 17; Lindgren I 789; [URL='http://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=6106']Asia Minor Coins Online AMCO #6106[/URL] [B]Note: [/B]Although I don't have a copy of Lindgren to confirm, AMCO states that the reference coins share the same dies as this coin, as does [URL='http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/lydia/saitta/BMC_17.jpg']this one[/URL] at wildwinds. I haven't seen a nicer example so far.[/SIZE] As always, any corrections or additions to the above are much appreciated. [B]Post coins of lunar gods, late 2nd or early 3rd century coins of western Anatolia, or anything else you find interesting or entertaining. [/B][/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
Lydian Moon God - Meis Axiottenos
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...
