Hello everybody. I’ve been on and off cataloging a big lot of Greek bronzes that I bought in some lots earlier this year. There have been some pleasant surprises, among others this one: Troas, Ophrynion. Circa 350-300 BC. Obverse: Bearded, three-quarter facing head of Hector, turned slightly left, wearing triple crested helmet. Reverse: OFRY, the infant Dionysos kneeling right, holding grape cluster in right hand. Reference: SNG Cop: 456ff var (Bust left, not right); BMC Troas pg. 75, 4-7 var (Same); SNG von Aulock 1559 var (Same) Rare. Size: 18mm, 6.5g. The tomb of Hector In Antiquity Ophryneion was considered to be the site of the Tomb of Hector, the famous Trojan hero killed by Achilles in Homers Iliad. It is possible that a lost play of the 5th century BC tragedian Sophocles referred to this tradition, and it likewise appears to be referred to on a vase from c. 500–490 BC depicting the sack of Troy. However, the first secure reference to this tradition appears on the coinage of Ophryneion, c. 350–300 BC, which depicted Hector. After the city of Thebes was rebuilt in 316 BC (it had been destroyed by Alexander the Great in 335 BC), the bones of Hector were moved from Ophryneion to Thebes in accordance with an oracle which promised Thebes prosperity should this happen. In the early 1st century AD, the geographer Strabo described there being a sacred precinct of Hector near Oryphneion in a conspicuous spot, but scholars have been unable to identify it. (From Wikipedia) Achilles killing Hector. From The British Museum: https://blog.britishmuseum.org/the-myth-of-the-trojan-war/ Ophrynion is a very rare mint with any type, and in any condition. However, the usual type of this coin depicts Hector's head slightly right. I have only found one other sample with the head slightly left. Please show me coins from Ophrynion, or coins honoring a fallen hero.
Very cool find! Man, wouldn't you just love to own that krater? I know I would, but on second thought, I'd be afraid to. I guarantee you the cats would knock it over and shatter it to smithereens.
I have been contemplating getting into antiques for years Yes, I would LOVE to own something like that. In the meantime, I get by with a little help from my coins.
My budget is far too limited to lose focus, so I stick with one thing: coins. That being said, if had deeper pockets, there would be a lot of other avenues I would explore, for sure!
