The title should make it obvious that I was particularly drawn to this coin because of the reverse, although my maximum was substantially below estimate. The roughness was just within my tolerance level, yet the centering, legible legends and relatively sharp details greatly appealed to me---at the right price. Of all the depictions of ancient deities to survive to the present day, this image has to be the most puzzling and bizarre. It seems hundreds of statues/figurines and countless coins managed to make it to the 21st century, yet there appears to be absolutely no consensus regarding just what those 'thingies' are all over her chest. Opinions offered and rejected are: breasts, bull testicles, bees eggs and gourds...... And, I also ran across the following qualifications: "One of Artemis' characteristics is that she protects fertility. This may be symbolized by the spherical objects that cover the lower part of her chest, but the common assumption that they are female breasts is incorrect. They probably represent the testicles of a bull, although they may also be gourds, which were known in Asia as fertility symbols for centuries. Artemis' robe is always decorated with lions, leopards, goats, griffins, and bulls, which represent Artemis' title of Lady of the Animals." "The Ephesian Artemis (also called Diana) should not be confused with the Greek Artemis (or Diana.) The Greek Artemis/Diana was a hunter.[3] The Ephesian Artemis/Diana, however, was unlike Greek gods or goddesses. She probably originated as a tree spirit and may have shared some attributes with other gods and goddesses of Anatolia. After the Ionians settled in Ephesus in around 1100 BC, they named the indigenous goddess after their Greek goddess Artemis." Below, I posted my coin (struck in Lydia) and two examples of the statue, vividly displaying those peculiar 'bumps' Please feel free to pile on with whatever you feel is relevant Lydia, Acrasus. Septimius Severus. A.D. 193-211. Æ (25 mm, 7.74 g, 6 h). AVT KAI CЄOVHPOC, laureate head of Septimius Severus right / AKP-AC-IΩ-TΩN, cult statue of Artemis Ephesia facing, with two arm supports. SNG Munich 21; BMC 20. Nicely contrasting dark and light green patina, minor surface roughness. Extremely fine.
Wow, that's another outstanding provincial pickup! The coin's a gorgeous green, has a great Sep-Sev portrait, and shows that Artemis cult statue in all its glory.
Nope! I have the WRONG Artemis! I read both posts from @Mikey Zee and @Roman Collector ... THANKS for the clarity. I was always mildly confused by the Diana version vs. Asia version. Makes sense now... Well here are my wrong Artemises HUNTRESS: RI Prv Lydia Hierocaesarea 54-59 CE Capito under Nero Artemis killing STAG RPC 1 2391-2 fin AS WATER NYMPH: Syracuse Tyrant Gelon 458-478 BCE AR Tet 24mm 16.7g Slow Biga Victory Artemis-Arethusa 4 dolphins Sear-Greek 914
This one seems to show mummy wrappings instead of the mystery balls. I suspect it is the same Artemis. Anemorion/Anemurium, Valerian, 253-268 AD (dated ЄΤΓ, year 3), AE29, 11.87g Obv: ΑΥ Κ ΠΟ ΛΙ ΟΥΑΛΕΡΙΑΝΟΝ; laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right Rev: ЄΤΓ ΑΝΕ ΝΟΥΡΙΕΩΝ; Mummy shaped cult statue of Artemis facing holding branches, at her feet, stag Lindgren III 798, BMC 12 ex Harlan J Berk, 43rd buy or bid sale, May 1986, lot 365 ex Clark's Ancient Coins, 2004, lot 641, Lovette collection
Perhaps @maridvnvm or @dougsmit could clarify that?? The mention of 'cult' makes me believe it is. In any case, Egyptian devices are always high on my want list!! @TIF has a few....and I hope she is doing well.
An awesome coin Mikey! Thanks for the write-up but I prefer the multi-mammiferous over the bull testis theory, since it is an unknown.
Great lookin' provincial MZ, I'd still have "cult statue of artermis" coin pretty high up on my list! That statue is so cool and weird...love it. I didn't know about the testes/gourds possibility, neat.
Saw a nice article in the current National Geographic HISTORY magazine featuring the temple. In reading this, I made a potential connection regarding a new purchase: This is a 1/5-tet minted under Philip II. I loved the front facing portrait (and that is why I bid), but wonder if Artemis appears to honor "her protection" of Alexander during his birth. CNG claims this was minted after 348BC. The article discusses the legend of the 356 temple burning and ATG (carried down by Plutrach). Wonder if this is a bit of physical propaganda potentially supporting the legend. Thoughts? EDIT: Just read about the distinction between the two Art-a-misses above, maybe my guess at a connection is bogus. The Artemis in my 1/5 has a quiver.
That's an absolutely fabulous provincial type, Mikey. Great score! I don't believe Artemis is depicted in such a way on any of the pre-Roman issues. One finds her bust and various symbols associated with her, mostly bees and stags. I recently got this bronze in a consignment... IONIA, Ephesos. Zopyros, magistrate. Æ19, 3.5g, 12h; late 2nd-early 1st century BC. Obv.: E-Φ; Bee in wreath. Rev.: Stag standing right before palm tree; monogram to right // [ZΩΠYPOΣ] Reference: SNG Copenhagen 302 var. (monogram).
I have to agree John. I haven't run across any pre-Roman examples that I can recall...all seem to be Severan or similar time periods. Thanks for the the kind words
