Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Jochen1, post: 3293870, member: 103829&quot;]Dear friends!</p><p><br /></p><p>I like to work on rare and less known subjects. So recently I came across the Itureans. The starting point for this article was the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=legend" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=legend" rel="nofollow">legend</a> ITVR on the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=rev." target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=rev." rel="nofollow">rev.</a> of the following coin:</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Coin #1</b></p><p><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=597" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=597" rel="nofollow">Syria</a>, <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=caesarea ad libanum" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=caesarea ad libanum" rel="nofollow">Caesarea ad Libanum</a>, <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=578" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=578" rel="nofollow">Severus Alexander</a> as Caesar under <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=574&amp;pos=0#The-Severan-Period" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=574&amp;pos=0#The-Severan-Period" rel="nofollow">Elagabal</a>, AD 221-222</p><p>AE 21, 8.5g, 0°</p><p><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=obv." target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=obv." rel="nofollow">obv.</a> [<a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=sev" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=sev" rel="nofollow">SEV</a> ALEZAN]DROS CAESAR</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=radiate" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=radiate" rel="nofollow">Radiate</a> <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=head" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=head" rel="nofollow">head</a> r.&nbsp; </p><p><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=rev." target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=rev." rel="nofollow">rev.</a> [<a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=col" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=col" rel="nofollow">COL</a> C - E - SA - R]IA LIB (?)</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=in ex" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=in ex" rel="nofollow">in ex</a>. ITVR</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Tripartite shrine of <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1919" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1919" rel="nofollow">Astarte</a> with 4 columns; in central intercolumnare under a </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; vaulted arch <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1919" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1919" rel="nofollow">Astarte</a> stg. frontal, holding <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=standard" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=standard" rel="nofollow">standard</a>, being wreathed by a male figur </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; stg. beside her, at her feet the upper body of a <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=3019" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=3019" rel="nofollow">river god</a> swimming r.; at both </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; sides outside staircases leading to the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=side" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=side" rel="nofollow">side</a> wings; in the left <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=side" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=side" rel="nofollow">side</a> wing goddess </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; with <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=kalathos" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=kalathos" rel="nofollow">kalathos</a> stg. between 2 <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1799" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1799" rel="nofollow">animals</a>, in the left <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=side" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=side" rel="nofollow">side</a> wing female figure stg. </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; frontal.</p><p><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=ref" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=ref" rel="nofollow">ref</a>. <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=bmc" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=bmc" rel="nofollow">BMC</a> 110, 9; <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=lindgren ii" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=lindgren ii" rel="nofollow">Lindgren II</a>, 121, 2288</p><p><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=rare" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=rare" rel="nofollow">Rare</a>, F/about VF, the sand <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1654" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1654" rel="nofollow">patina</a> evokes the appealing impression that the temple is illuminated from behind.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]871416[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>Note</b>:</p><p>(1) The old name of Kaisareia was Arka. Probably under <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=574&amp;pos=0#The-Severan-Period" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=574&amp;pos=0#The-Severan-Period" rel="nofollow">Elagabal</a> the city was raised to a <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" rel="nofollow">Roman</a> <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=colonia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=colonia" rel="nofollow">colonia</a> (hence the Latin legend!) under the name <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=colonia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=colonia" rel="nofollow">COLONIA</a> CAESAREA LIBANI. Here <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=578" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=578" rel="nofollow">Severus Alexander</a> was born on October 1 208 AD, cousin, adoptive son and successor of <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=574&amp;pos=0#The-Severan-Period" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=574&amp;pos=0#The-Severan-Period" rel="nofollow">Elagabal</a>. On this coin he is at the age of about 13-14 years.</p><p><br /></p><p>(2) Caesarea <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=had" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=had" rel="nofollow">had</a> as we know from literature a temple of <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=553" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=553" rel="nofollow">Alexander the Great</a> and an important cult for <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1919" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1919" rel="nofollow">Astarte</a> as Aphrodite Architis (= Atargatis). Wether the interesting building of the shrine as triptychon corresponds with the reality we don&#039;t know. The two <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=statues" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=statues" rel="nofollow">statues</a> in the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=side" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=side" rel="nofollow">side</a> wings are not identifiable for sure. The goddess on the left <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=side" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=side" rel="nofollow">side</a> corresponds iconographically with the &quot;Mistress of the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1799" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1799" rel="nofollow">Animals</a> (<i>Ποτνια θηρον</i>)&quot;, the goddess on the right <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=side" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=side" rel="nofollow">side</a> could be possibly Aphrodite. Although the location of the city between <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1975" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1975" rel="nofollow">Tripolis</a> and Antandros at the modern Tell Arqa is exactly identified we don&#039;t know the ancient name of the river Nahr-el-Arqa that has its source in the mountains of Lebanon.</p><p><br /></p><p>ITVR, that has catched my eye, has nothing to deal with ITVR of Latin &quot;<i>ire</i> = to go&quot;, as in &quot;Abitur&quot; (in <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=3129" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=3129" rel="nofollow">Germany</a> = general qualification for university entrance), but refers to the people of Itureans, about which I have heard nothing until now. And suddenly and unexpectedly we have again the situation that by a single coin a totally new <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=field" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=field" rel="nofollow">field</a> of knowledge has opened. This is well known under collectors and something that makes collecting of coins so fascinating.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><b>The Itureans:</b></p><p>The Itureans (Greek<i> Ituraioi</i>, Latin <i>Ituraei</i>) were nomadic people, probably from South <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1195" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1195" rel="nofollow">Arabia</a> (<a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=pauly" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=pauly" rel="nofollow">Pauly</a>), that invaded the Bekaa Valley between Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains and settled mainly the mountainous slopes. For the older collectors the Bekaa Valley will be well-known, because in the Lebanese civil war 1975-1990, that changed the former &quot;Switzerland of Near East&quot; to a heap of ruins, it played an important strategic role, especially by the militias of the Druzes. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]871419[/ATTACH]</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Itureans are mentioned already in the Old Testament of the Bible. In Genesis 25, 15 and in 1st Chronic, 1, 31, Jetur, a son of Ismael, son of Abraham, is called their ancestor. Jetur generally is seen as ancestor of the Arabs (<a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=gen" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=gen" rel="nofollow">Gen</a>. 25, 12-18) and thereby shows the narrow historical relations between Israelites and Arabs. The Itureans too were mentioned by Strabo and Cassius Dio and appear in the NT too. The <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" rel="nofollow">Romans</a> called them in the same breath with the Arabs&quot; bandits&quot; because of their raids on caravans. According to them their area of settlement was called Ituraia that probably means &quot;land of the mountain settlers&quot;. Their main town was Chalkis that because of its location too was called <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=chalcis" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=chalcis" rel="nofollow">Chalcis</a> sub Libano. First it was an important buffer state of the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" rel="nofollow">Romans</a> against the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=parthians" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=parthians" rel="nofollow">Parthians</a> but not very reliable. When the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" rel="nofollow">Romans</a> have given their realm to Herodes the Great they disappeared from <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1475" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1475" rel="nofollow">history</a>. That the Lebanese Druzes could be traced back to them, that you can read too, is not possible because newly researches of the mitochondrial DNA of the Druzes have shown that they have originated from a great number of different people.</p><p><br /></p><p>The <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" rel="nofollow">Romans</a> regarded the Itureans highly as archers and formed a number of cohorts of their auxiliary units that were named after them. In 1982 during works on a developing area in Mainz/Germany a wooden tablet was found that mentioned an officer &quot;Datus Ituraeus&quot;. The tablet was made in Augustan time and proves that one of these cohorts, probably from <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=pannonia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=pannonia" rel="nofollow">Pannonia</a>, was deployed here. The <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=legend" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=legend" rel="nofollow">legend</a> ITVR on the coin of <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=578" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=578" rel="nofollow">Severus Alexander</a> points to the fact that the city was located in the territory of the Itureans or its population was a greater <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=part" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=part" rel="nofollow">part</a> of this people.</p><p><br /></p><p>To round out my small <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=872&amp;pos=0&amp;open=872" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=872&amp;pos=0&amp;open=872" rel="nofollow">collection</a> of <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" rel="nofollow">Roman</a> client states I have added the following coin to my <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=872&amp;pos=0&amp;open=872" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=872&amp;pos=0&amp;open=872" rel="nofollow">collection</a>:</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Coin #2</b></p><p><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=597" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=597" rel="nofollow">Syria</a>, Coele-Syria, <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=chalcis" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=chalcis" rel="nofollow">Chalcis</a> sub Libano, <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1027" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1027" rel="nofollow">Octavian</a>, c. 32-34 BC</p><p>AE 22, 6.46g, 22,3mm</p><p>struck 27/26 BC (= year 107 of local era)</p><p><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=obv." target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=obv." rel="nofollow">obv.</a> L ZΠ NE - KAI (from upper left)</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=bare head" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=bare head" rel="nofollow">Bare head</a> of <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1027" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1027" rel="nofollow">Octavian</a> r.</p><p><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=rev." target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=rev." rel="nofollow">rev.</a> <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=815" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=815" rel="nofollow">ZENO</a>ΔOPOV TETP - APXOV KAI APXHPEΩΣ (from upper right)</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=bare head" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=bare head" rel="nofollow">Bare head</a> of Zenodoros l.</p><p><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=ref" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=ref" rel="nofollow">ref</a>. <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=rpc" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=rpc" rel="nofollow">RPC</a> 4775; <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=bmc" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=bmc" rel="nofollow">BMC</a> 7; <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=sng copenhagen" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=sng copenhagen" rel="nofollow">SNG Copenhagen</a> 417; <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=sng france" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=sng france" rel="nofollow">SNG France</a> 9-10; Daniel Hermann, The </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Coins of the Itureans, <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=type" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=type" rel="nofollow">Type</a> 17, in &quot;Israel <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1670" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1670" rel="nofollow">Numismatics</a> Research 1 (2016)&quot;</p><p><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=scarce" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=scarce" rel="nofollow">Scarce</a>, F+, legends well readable</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]871418[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Note:</b></p><p>NE - KAI for NEOS KAISAR, the new Caesar = <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=383" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=383" rel="nofollow">Augustus</a></p><p>It is remarkable that all the coins of the Itureans have Greek legends and depict Greek deities. This is an indication for the fact how deeply the Hellenism has penetrated even the culture of small nations.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>The Principality of Chalkis:</b></p><p>When the influence of the Seleucids began to fade the Itureans under Ptolemaios (85-40 BC), son of Mennaios, spread out over Coele-Syria and the mountains of Lebanon, until Pompeji 66 BC they finally conquered and made them a client state of the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" rel="nofollow">Romans</a>. The successor of Ptolemaios was <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=his" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=his" rel="nofollow">his</a> son Lysanias (40-36 BC). Wether this house was originally Arabic or has come with <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=553" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=553" rel="nofollow">Alexander the Great</a> into this region is uncertain. Lysanias has been executed by the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" rel="nofollow">Romans</a> because of <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=his" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=his" rel="nofollow">his</a> too great <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=affinity" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=affinity" rel="nofollow">affinity</a> to the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=parthians" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=parthians" rel="nofollow">Parthians</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>Zenodoros (36-23 v.Chr.) was the successor of Lysanias. Kleopatra has given to him these region that she got from <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=marcus antonius" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=marcus antonius" rel="nofollow">Marcus Antonius</a> 36 BC on lease. After the death of <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=marcus antonius" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=marcus antonius" rel="nofollow">Marcus Antonius</a> <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=383" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=383" rel="nofollow">Augustus</a> confirmed this commitment and he ruled as tetrarch and <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=archiereus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=archiereus" rel="nofollow">archiereus</a> over the territories of Iturea and Trachonitis but with the payment of considerable tributes. To pay these tributes Zenodoros <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=had" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=had" rel="nofollow">had</a> to collaborate with brigand bands that even threatened <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=damascus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=damascus" rel="nofollow">Damascus</a>, Berytos and Byblos. That couldn&#039;t be tolerated by the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" rel="nofollow">Romans</a> and <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=383" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=383" rel="nofollow">Augustus</a> committed 23 BC <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=his" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=his" rel="nofollow">his</a> realm to <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=his" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=his" rel="nofollow">his</a> ally Herodes (23 BC - AD 4). The realm of the Itureans was cut into pieces. Besides the territory of Trachonitis and Galilee under Herodes there was the territory around Abilene, in the time of <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=387" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=387" rel="nofollow">Tiberius</a> under the rule of Herodes <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=928" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=928" rel="nofollow">Agrippa I</a> and Herodes <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1172" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1172" rel="nofollow">Agrippa II</a>, the territory between <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=heliopolis" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=heliopolis" rel="nofollow">Heliopolis</a> (Baalbek) and Laodikeia that <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=392" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=392" rel="nofollow">Caligula</a> bestowed a certain Soeimas, and the true heartland around Chalkis, that was ruled by the tetrarch Herodes Philippus (4-34 AD), a son of Herodes (Luk. 3, 1).</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]871420[/ATTACH] </p><p>All these territories were over time incorporated to <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=597" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=597" rel="nofollow">Syria</a>, at last perhaps the region of Chalkis. The <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1475" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1475" rel="nofollow">history</a> of the principality of Chalkis shows paradigmatically that such a small state has no chance to&nbsp; keep its autonomy between two great empires as it was the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" rel="nofollow">Roman Empire</a> and the Empire of the <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=parthians" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=parthians" rel="nofollow">Parthians</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have added:</p><p>(1) A photo of the Bekaa Valley, in the background the Lake of Qaraoun</p><p>(2) A plan of Ituraia (outlined green) from the &quot;<a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=atlas" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=atlas" rel="nofollow">Atlas</a> antiquus&quot; of Karl Sprunner AD 1865 </p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Sources:</b></p><p>(1) Old Testament</p><p>(2) New Testament (NT)</p><p>(3) Cassius Dio, <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=55&amp;pos=0" rel="nofollow">Roman</a> <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1475" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1475" rel="nofollow">history</a></p><p>(4) Strabon, Geographica 16.2, 10.18</p><p>(5) <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=cicero" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=cicero" rel="nofollow">Cicero</a>, Philippica 2.112</p><p>(6) Flavius Josephus, Antiquitates Judaicae </p><p>(7) Pseudo-Cäsar, Bellum Africanum 20</p><p>(8) Macrobius, Saturnalia</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Secondary Literature:</b></p><p>(1) Der Kleine <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=pauly" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=pauly" rel="nofollow">Pauly</a></p><p>(2) Daniel Hermann, The Coins of the Itureans, <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=type" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=type" rel="nofollow">Type</a> 17, in &quot;Israel <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1670" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1670" rel="nofollow">Numismatics</a> </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Research 1 (2016)&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Online-Sources:</b></p><p>(1) <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=wikipedia" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=wikipedia" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Best regards[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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