• Heroes-oecists on Cretan coins



Heroes-oecists on Cretan coins
Heroes-oecists on Cretan coins

The “Cretan Polis” ➔ Heroes-oecists on Cretan coins

Ν1096, Ν497, Ν1246, ΣΓ519
Metal (Bronze, Silver)
Minor use-wear on surfaces
Diameters: 1.8 cm., 2.0 cm., 2.4 cm., 1.8 cm., 2.5 cm.
Mitropolis hoard /1915, -, Praisos, -, -.
Hellenistic and Roman period:
4th c. BC -2nd c. AD:
Gallery:
XXI
Case:
212
Exhibition thematic unit:
Cretan Coinage
Gods, heroes and daemons on Cretan coinage
Description
The various pictorial themes on Cretan currency were drawn from the natural or supernatural world, as the issuing cities attempted to create a local numismatic identity, recognisable both within their borders and outside them. These images included the oecists, the founding heroes of the cities in the local mythic history, with cults often going back centuries. Coins, as bearers of their image, present in their thousands in the daily life of even the humblest citizen, could increase social cohesion and reinforce local patriotism, reminding the inhabitants of their real or imaginary common ancestor, king or hero, who had often also given his name to the city. Thus, even when written testimonies are sparse, the numismatic issues can provide information on the lost founding myths of each land, as they survived into the Roman era. Some representative examples: 1a. Cydonia (drachm, 300-280 BC). Obverse: Head of Dictynna. Reverse: Kydon drawing his bow. Inscription ΚΥΔΩΝ. 1b. Cydonia in the reign of Augustus (bronze as, 28 BC-14 AD). Obverse: Head of Augustus. Reverse: The infant Kydon suckling from a female dog. Inscription ΚΥΔΩΝΙΑΤΑΝ (Kydoniatan, “of the Kydonians”) (the reverse imitates silver issues of the city of the 2nd c. BC). 2. Aptera (stater, 320-280 BC). Obverse: Head of Nymph or Artemis. Inscription ΑΠΤΑΡΑΙΩΝ (Aptaraion, “of the Apterans”) and the name of the artist ΠΥΘΟΔΩΡΟΥ (Pythodoros). Reverse: Armed Apteras, the oecist of the city, saluting a small laurel tree. Inscription with the epithet of the god ΠΤΟΛΙΟΙΚΟΣ (Ptolioikos, “dweller in the city”). 3a. Gortyn (drachm, late 2nd c. BC). Obverse: head of Zeus. Reverse: armed, nude Gortys with spear, standing with legs apart and leaning on his shield. 3b. Cretan Koinon in Trajan’s reign (bronze issue c. 115 AD). Obverse: wreathed head of emperor. Reverse: armed Gortys bearing circular shield and spear in attacking movement. Inscription ΓΟΡΤΥΣ (Gortys).
Bibliography:
J. Svoronos, Numismatique de la Crète ancienne, Mâcon 1890, p. 15, pl. Ι,10 and p. 348,84, pl. ΧΧΧΙV,18. G. LeRider, Monnaies Crétoises du Ve au Ier siècle av. J-C, Paris 1966, p. 9,7, pl. Ι,7. A. Burnett, M. Amandry and P. P. Ripollès, Roman Provincial Coinage I. From the Death of Caesar to the Death of Vitellius (44 B.C.-A.D. 69), London and Paris 1992, 1011. J. H. Marshall and R. C. Bosanquet, Excavations at Praesos. I, BSA 8 (1901/1902), p. 269,1. V. Stefanaki - M. Stefanakis, "Le monnayage d’argent de Gortyne entre la seconde moitié du iiie et le premier quart du ier siècle av. J.-C. : remarques préliminaires", Revue Numismatique 170(2013), p. 156. M. Amandry, A. Burnett, J. Mairat, Roman Provincial Coinage III. From Nerva to Hadrian (AD 96–138), London and Paris 2015, 40.
Author:
K. S.


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