Temple of Asklepios in Dium

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, Jul 19, 2018.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    A new purchase from Frank's most recent auction -- a bronze of Salonina from Dium, Macedon, featuring Asklepios in a distyle temple.

    Originally a harbor before it was silted up, Dium (Greek Δίον Dion) was the sacred city of Macedon, built at the foot of Mount Olympus, with sanctuaries dedicated to Zeus, Demeter, Artemis, Asklepios, and Isis. At the end of the 5th century BC King Arkelaos I, founder of Pella, built the sanctuary to Zeus (from whom Dion gets its name), and also a stadium and theater, where the Olympic Games of Dion were held in honor of Olympian Zeus and the plays of Euripides performed. It was to Dion that the Macedonian kings came to make sacrifice before going into battle and where they celebrated their victories; Philip II came after his victory at Olynthos and Alexander made sacrifice before setting off on his conquests.

    Around 43 BC Roman colonists arrived here and after the Battle of Actium (31 BC) Augustus organized a mass transportation of Italians. In the 2nd century AD there was a burst of building activity the results of which we see today in the ruins of the ancient city. In its heyday 15,000 people lived there.

    In the fourth century BC, The Asklepion was built. A place was chosen with plenty of water, because it played a special role in the practice of the Asklepion cult. It served the healing of the sick and was needed for the cult practices. So far, the foundations of a building that consisted of two rooms have been excavated. The discovery of a public latrine near the sanctuary suggests that pilgrims stayed there for some time to cure their ailments.

    You can read more about the archaeological excavations at the ancient city here. Here's a screenshot from the virtual tour about the Asklepion:

    Capture.JPG

    Post your coins of Dium, Asklepios, Salonina provincials--anything you feel is relevant.

    Salonina Dium Diassarion Asklepios.jpg
    Salonina, AD 253-268.
    Roman provincial orichacum diassarion, 8.96 g, 22.0 mm, 7h
    Macedon, Dium.
    Obv: SALONINA AVG, Diademed and draped bust r. on crescent.
    Rev: COL IVL DIEN-[SIS] D - D, Asklepios standing facing in distyle temple, leaning on serpent-entwined staff in r. hand.
    Refs: Varbanov III, p. 409, 3571; AMNG III--; Sear GIC --; BMC--; SNG ANS --; SNG Copenhagen--; Lindgren II--; Moushmov--.
    Notes: Obverse and reverse die match to an example sold at Leu Numismatik Web Auction 2, lot 381, December 3, 2017 and the only other one I could find online:

    4603752.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2018
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  3. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Excellent!
     
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  4. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

  5. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Neat coin and nice write-up. These architectural types are really fascinating!
     
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  6. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Nice coins, nice writeup!

    Caracalla was a supplicant of Asklepios, reportedly beseeching the god to cure his illness. The exact nature of his illness is unknown but sounds mental. Cassius Dio recorded these speculations in Roman History, book LXXVIII, 15.3-7.

    "For he was sick not only in body, partly from visible partly from secret ailments, but in mind as well, suffering from certain distressing visions, and often he thought he was being pursued by his father and by his brother, armed with swords."

    Dio opines that the gods were not impressed by his offerings, judging Caracalla by his deeds rather than his gifts.

    "This showed most clearly that they regarded, not his votive offerings or his sacrifices, but only his purposes and his deeds. He received no help from Apollo Grannus, nor yet from Aesculapius or Serapis, in spite of his many supplications and his unwearying persistence. For even while abroad he sent to them prayers, sacrifices and votive offerings, and many couriers ran hither and thither every day carrying something of this kind; and he also went to them himself, hoping to prevail by appearing in person, and did all that devotees are wont to do; but he obtained nothing that contributed to health."


    [​IMG]
    THRACE, Pautalia. Caracalla
    CE 198-217
    AE29, 16.4 gm
    Obv: AYT K M AY CEY ANTΩNEINOC; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
    Rev: OYΛΠIAC ΠAYTAΛIAC; Asklepios seated right on back of winged serpent
    Ref: Varbanov 5007
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2018
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  7. Okidoki

    Okidoki Well-Known Member

    Nice topic,

    MACEDONIA, Dium AE 25 129-38 AD Athena standing
    878 P Hadrian RPC614.jpg
     
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