Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="jb_depew, post: 8330713, member: 88227"]The story of Glycon, the sock puppet snake god with a bearded humanoid head, snake body, and fish tail, is so outlandish and interesting that I couldn't help but acquire a couple of new coins portraying the deity. To offer a brief background, the cult was established in the second century A.D. by Alexander of Abonoteichos (born in Asia Minor circa 105). He was a swindler who settled in Macedonia and took advantage of the fact that snake cults had been established there for centuries. After prophesizing the impending arrival of Glycon, a manifestation of the Greek healing god Asklepios, he staged the birth of the baby snake god from a goose egg, which rapidly "grew" in size under his care. The head was likely a puppet, while the body of the god possibly leveraged a live, tame snake that was already in Alexander's possession. The sale of prophesies, which were issued through Glycon and of course interpreted by his chief priest, made the cult quite profitable. It was also popular, allegedly garnering attention even from the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. Glycon was worshiped for a century or more after the death of Alexander circa 170 A.D. Much has been written about Glycon already, so I won't attempt to say more than I have. I found an interesting article on the <a href="https://historyofyesterday.com/the-hoax-religion-with-a-puppet-as-its-deity-6586249bfad5" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://historyofyesterday.com/the-hoax-religion-with-a-puppet-as-its-deity-6586249bfad5" rel="nofollow">History of Yesterday website</a>, and also several good threads here on CoinTalk:<ul> <li><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an-interesting-representation-of-glykon.383315/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an-interesting-representation-of-glykon.383315/">An Interesting Representation of Glykon</a> by Roman Collector</li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/glykon-the-snake-cult-of-alexander-of-abounoteichos.333661/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/glykon-the-snake-cult-of-alexander-of-abounoteichos.333661/">The Snake Cult of Alexander of Abounoteichos</a></li> </ul>The first coin I'll share is a chunky bronze from the city of Pautalia in Thrace, showing Asklepios atop a winged representation of Glycon. Some older references call this a "winged serpent," but most contemporary interpretations assert that contextually this could only be Glycon. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/0FFdjOv.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Thrace, Pautalia, Caracalla Æ 30198-217 ADObverse: AYT K M AY CEY ANTΩNEINOC; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla right, seen from the front with aegis.Reverse: OYΛΠIAC ΠAYTAΛIAC; Asklepios cradling serpent-entwined staff, reclining left, head right, on winged, coiled, and bearded Glycon flying right.References: Varbanov 5007; Moushmov 4235; Ruzicka 618. 30mm; 18.94g The next two coins are from Moesia Inferior, a Roman province that was situated in modern-day Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and the northern parts of North Macedonia. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Xa1dWhy.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, Macrinus with Diadumenian, Æ Pentassarion217-218 ADIssued under Pontianus, legatus consularis.Obverse: AVT K OΠEΛ CEV MAKPEINOC K M OΠEΛ ANTΩNEINOC; Confronted heads of Macrinus, laureate, and Diadumenian, bare-headed.Reverse: VΠ ΠONTIANOV MAPKIANOΠOΛEITΩN; Serpent Glycon coiled right; E (mark of value) in field to left.References: Varbanov 1286 var. (obv. legend).Size: 27mmWeight: 11.39 g I've shared this coin before, which was struck in the city of Tomis, known as the place where the Roman poet Ovid was banished during the reign of Augustus. It was one of the last types minted there preceding gothic invasion and the resulting decline of the city. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/aYpN7a9.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Moesia Inferior, Tomis, Philip II (as Caesar) Æ tetrassarionStruck circa 247 ADObverse: M IOVΛ ΦIΛIΠΠOC KAI / CAP AVΓ; Bareheaded, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip II right and draped bust of Serapis left, wearing kalathos.Reverse: MHTPOΠONTOV / TOMЄΩC; Serpent-shaped Glycon coiled, bearded head left.References: Varbanov 5803.27mm; 12.87g Just for fun, here's a coin from Pergamon portraying Asklepios on the obverse. It was stripped at some point, but I actually rather like the bare surfaces, which I think resemble how it might have looked when still in circulation. <img src="https://i.imgur.com/ewdmS79.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> Mysia, Pergamon Æ 22mmCirca 133-27 BCSeleucus, magistrateObverse: Laureate head of Asklepios right, ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ below.Reverse: ΠΕΡΓΑΜΗΝΩΝ above and below eagle standing left on thunderbolt, head turned right and wings open, Γ-Α in fields.References: SNG France 1866; SNG Cop 378.22mm; 8.63g Feel free to post any coins you feel are relevant <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> -Jeremy[/QUOTE]

Create my FREE Account!

Log in or Sign up

Reply to Thread

Useful Searches