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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ValiantKnight, post: 2607716, member: 44210&quot;]After running it through CT&#039;s resident expert on coins with this mythological figure, I acquired one of my own. It wasn&#039;t crazy urgent but I did want to add a man-faced bull coin to my collection. I also wanted a coin from Magna Graecia. So when this coin came up in one of my searches I decided to go for it. I purchased this on the last day of 2016, so it just barely made it as my last coin of last year!</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Neapolis, Campania</b></p><p>AR nomos</p><p><b>Obv</b>: Head of nymph right, wearing broad headband, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace</p><p><b>Rev</b>: Man-headed bull walking right, head facing; above, Nike flying right, placing wreath on bull&#039;s head; NEOΠOΛITΩN in exergue</p><p><b>Mint</b>: Neapolis</p><p><b>Date</b>: Mid-late 4th century BC</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]570231[/ATTACH]</p><p>In ancient Greek mythology, Achelous was the patron god of the river of the same name in Greece. However, earlier before this, Achelous had originally been the god of all water. His status as the protector of the largest river in Greece elevated him to be the most important of all the river gods, and according to Homer, Achelous was the creator of all of the fresh water in the world. This legend persisted into Roman times. In addition to being a man-faced bull, he also was depicted as either a gray-haired old man or a younger bearded man with horns and a serpent-like body.</p><p><br /></p><p>The man-faced bull was something found among several of the cultures surrounding the Mediterranean, and is thought to ultimately have an Eastern origin, being spread to Europe by way of seafarers. It also became a popular symbol among Greek mercenaries. The idea of Achelous taking the form of a man-faced bull originated with the Etruscans in the 8th century BC.</p><p><br /></p><p>Achelous was said to have been the son of either Oceanus and Gaia, or Oceanus and Tethys. He came into conflict with Heracles over who would wed Deianeira, the daughter of King Oeneus. During the battle, Achelous, who was in human form, transformed into a bull and then had one of his horns pulled off. The defeated Achelous then had to trade the goat horn of Amalthea for his own broken horn. In addition to this story there are a few more myths as well.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ovid&#039;s description of Achelous&#039;s dwelling in <i>Metamorphoses</i>, (&quot;made of spongy pumice, and rough tuff. The floor was moist with soft moss, and the ceiling banded with freshwater mussel and oyster shells.&quot;) served as an inspiration for the development of 16th century Italian mannerist garden grottos, and Italian midday meals were influenced by the food Achelous served to Theseus.</p><p><br /></p><p>(Source: Achelous on Wikipedia)</p><p><br /></p><p>Achelous:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]570232[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]570233[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Achelous vs Heracles:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]570234[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Neapolis (modern-day Naples, Italy):</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]570235[/ATTACH]</p><p>Magna Graecia:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]570236[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I wonder how Achelous would fare in a fight against Manbearpig from South Park?! <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie101" alt=":woot:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]570242[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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