Wondering if anyone can shed some light on this as the internet is quite cryptic on the topic of why Zeus Oranios appears on some coins and what the meaning of it would be. The only thing I've unearthed is a reference to Zeus Oranios meaning Zeus 'from heaven'. Can anyone add to that or know when Zeus Oranios began appearing on coinage and why? Syria, Antioch / Antiochos VIII / AR, 26.5 mm, 16.6 gm / 112-110 BC Obv: Diademed head of of Antiochos VIII right Rev: Zeus standing left within wreath holding star and sceptre, crescent above head with BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, A in left field
This info might help a bit on Zeus Ouranos - don't know when he first appeared on coins or why. For connection to Syria: the story from Apollodatus 1.6.3 linking Zeus, an adamantine sickle, and Syria. "However Zeus pelted Typhon at a distance with thunderbolts, and at close quarters struck him down with an adamantine sickle, and as he fled pursued him closely as far as Mount Casius, which overhangs Syria" And from the wikipedia: "In Greek mythology, Cronus castrated his father Uranus using an adamant sickle given to him by his mother Gaia." Etymology of the name Zeus potentially relevant as well - Dyeus, from a root meaning "sky" or "shine". @Jochen1, resident expert in mythology on CT, may know more.
some googling showed it means something like "Zeus of the heavens" + my 2 other Zeus types (which seem to just mean Zeus holding something) Zeus Aëtophoros (Zeus Holding Eagle) Zeus Nikephoros (Zeus Holding Nike)
"The epithet Ouranios (“of Heaven”) indicates Zeus as ruler of the heavens. The star and crescent probably represent the Sun and Moon. According to Zahle, Religious Motifs on Seleucid Coins, Zeus Ouranios is a new Hellenistic creation and he testifies to the advanced syncretism of the late 2nd and early 1st century BC. Nevertheless, according to Iossif and Lorber, Celestial Iconography on the Eastern Coinage of Antiochus IV (footnote 78), the star can be a symbol of Antiochos VIII’s epithet Epiphanes, not an attribute of the god himself, representing his role as governor over the movements of the stars and the celestial orbs. So, the type should also (or instead) be understood as Zeus holding the star of epiphany of King Antiochos Epiphanes." From Seleukid Traces We got the same coin type: Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos) (121/0-97/6 B.C.) AR Tetradrachm. 2nd reign at Antioch. Antiochia on the Orontes mint, 112-111/10 B.C. Obverse: Diademed head of Antiochos VIII to right. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANTIOXOY - EΠIΦANOYΣ Zeus Ouranios standing front, head to left; holding star in his right hand and long scepter in his left; above, crescent; to left, monogram above A; to inner right, Δ; all within laurel wreath. Reference: SC 2302.1f. 16.26g; 27mm
