Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Curtis, post: 24648630, member: 26430&quot;]I find mythology both one of the most rewarding and most intimidating things about ancient Greek &amp; Roman Provincial coins. One approach might be to start reading books about mythology generally. The nice thing about coins, though, is that you can start with bite-sized pieces.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here’s a newer addition: Hemiobol from Skione (6mm, 0.34 g, struck c. 480-454/3 BCE), whose coinage often features the mythical hero, Protesilaus, from the Trojan War.</p><p><br /></p><p>There had been a prophecy that the first Greek to land ashore would die. (Odysseus avoiding death by leaping upon his shield.) Even knowing his his fate, Protesilaus sacrificed himself, stepping onto the shores and slaying several Trojans before being killed by Hector.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1569238[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Of the reverse, Galst &amp; van Alfen wrote: “The significance for the eye as an emblem of Skione is not known” (2016: p. 476, XIII.9, this coin). But I&#039;m very curious if anyone has ideas...</p><p><br /></p><p>Interesting that Protesilaus appears on Macedonian coins, as he was actually reputed to be a Thessalian. Maybe the Thessalian coins were already too full of their own mythological references!</p><p><br /></p><p>I got started on the Thessalian bronzes several years ago when I bought several dozen, from various cities, in group lots of BCD Collection Duplicates from CNG.&nbsp; (Unbelievably cheaply, by the way.) Just a couple examples:</p><p><br /></p><p>On the reverse of the coins from Halos (20mm, 5.98g, 3rd century BCE) we see the mythological Phrixos flying on the ram with the golden fleece (I love that design!):</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1569241[/ATTACH]</p><p>(But why does it have the AX monogram usually for Achilles? Maybe a mint official?)</p><p><br /></p><p>Returning to <i>The Iliad</i> and the Trojan War on the small bronzes of Lamia (14.5mm, 2.89g, 4th century BCE)...</p><p><br /></p><p>Here we see Philoktetes shooting an arrow and striking a bird. (From Sophocles: “<i>This bow gave me the food my stomach craved, by shooting birds as they passed overhead</i>.”)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1569246[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>In various Greek traditions (incl. Homer’s <i>Iliad</i> and the plays of Sophocles), the mythological archer Philoktetes (Philoctetes), in possession of Herakles’ bow and arrows, became stranded on the island of Lemnos en route to the Trojan War.</p><p><br /></p><p>There the invincible weapons of Herakles served the lowly purpose of hunting birds. In some tellings, Philoktetes, once retrieved from Lemnos, would kill Paris, son of Priam, and hide inside the Trojan Horse.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I could keep going and going -- just on that initial group of Thessalian bronzes.… Even without ever getting to Jason or Thessalos or – my favorite – Peloros!</p><p><br /></p><p>There’s a lot there to learn about the complex and unique “local” mythology of Thessaly, such as every city and region had in the Classical world.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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