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A guide to the principal gold and silver coins of the ancients ...

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B.C. 400-336. 47<br />

"by <strong>the</strong> wolf is that <strong>of</strong> winter slain by <strong>the</strong> god <strong>of</strong> light<br />

<strong>and</strong> warmth.<br />

37. Arcadia. JR. Ohv. Head <strong>of</strong> Zeus. Rev. Pan seated on rocks,<br />

holding in his right h<strong>and</strong> pedum ; at his feet, syrinx ; in field,<br />

monogram <strong>of</strong> Arcadia ; on <strong>the</strong> rock, OAYM. Wt. 190 grs.<br />

Zeus Lycaeus <strong>and</strong> Pan were <strong>the</strong> two chief divinities ot<br />

Arcadia ; <strong>the</strong>ir temples s<strong>to</strong>od on Mount Lycseum, <strong>the</strong><br />

Arcadian Olympus. On <strong>the</strong> reverse <strong>of</strong> this coin Pan is<br />

represented as sitting on <strong>the</strong> summit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mountain.<br />

This beautiful coin was issued by <strong>the</strong> Arcadian Confederacy<br />

after B.C. 371. Artistically, this coin is <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

highest interest, as it shows us a complete figure by an<br />

engraver <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Peloponnesian school <strong>of</strong> Polycletus.<br />

38. Stymphalus. M. Obv. Head <strong>of</strong> Artemis, laureate, wearing<br />

earring <strong>and</strong> necklace. Eev. ZTYMAAinN. Herakles, wielding<br />

his club ; <strong>the</strong> lion's skin round his left arm. Wt. 185-1 grs.<br />

Stymphalus was a city in <strong>the</strong> north-east <strong>of</strong> Arcadia.<br />

The only building in this city mentioned by Pausanias<br />

was a temple <strong>of</strong> Artemis Stymphalia, in which were<br />

figures <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Stymphalian birds destroyed by Herakles.<br />

This coin is <strong>of</strong> about <strong>the</strong> same period as <strong>the</strong> preceding.<br />

39. Crete. CnoSSUS. M. Obv. Head <strong>of</strong> Hera, wearing Stephanos<br />

adorned with flowers. Bev. KNOZIQN. Square labyrinth; in<br />

field, AP, spear-head, <strong>and</strong> thunderbolt. Wt. 171 grs.<br />

The foundation <strong>of</strong> this city was attributed <strong>to</strong> Minos.<br />

The marriage <strong>of</strong> Zeus with Hera was here commemorated<br />

by an annual festival, " <strong>the</strong> Sacred Marriage " ; hence <strong>the</strong><br />

head <strong>of</strong> Hera, as a bride, on <strong>the</strong> <strong>coins</strong>. The labyrinth<br />

may be compared with that on I. B. 32.<br />

40. Phaestus. M. Obv. TAAON. Talos as a winged youth,<br />

hurling a s<strong>to</strong>ne. Bev. k\I.T\n.U. Bull. Wt. 178 grs.<br />

Talos or Talon was a man <strong>of</strong> brass, fabricated by<br />

Hephaestus. He watched <strong>the</strong> coast <strong>of</strong> Crete, <strong>and</strong> warded<br />

<strong>of</strong>f hostile ships by hurling s<strong>to</strong>nes at <strong>the</strong>m. The presence<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> letter fl on this coin renders it probable that it<br />

is <strong>of</strong> later date than II. B. 38.

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