Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XI 7 April 2016
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Sicily, Gela AR Tetradrachm. Circa 420-415 BC. Charioteer, holding reins and kentron, driving slow quadriga to left; above, Nike flying left to crown the horses / Forepart of the river-god Gelas to right, ΓEΛAΣ above. Jenkins 473; SNG ANS 93 (same dies); Kraay/Hirmer 162; SNG Fitzwilliam 1000 (same dies); Jenkins 473. 17.45g, 24mm, 9h.
Good Extremely Fine; obv. from the usual worn die.
From the Angelo S. Collection;
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 64, 17 May 2012, lot 682;
Ex Nomos FPL 3, 2010, no. 11.
The city of Gela was jointly founded by colonists from Crete and Lindos, Rhodes, 45 years after the foundation of Syracuse, around 688 BC. The city took its name from the nearby river, which itself was given the appellation Gela on account of the icy coldness of its waters, the word gela meaning 'ice' in the languages of the Opici and Siculi, as it does in Latin.
Virgil applies the epithet immanis to Gela, which some believe is in reference to the river, others the city. The latter is more correct, and is an allusion to the horned, man-headed bull depicted on their coinage which is a personification of the river Gela itself. This image of the river-god is derived from that of Acheloüs, the 'father of all rivers'.
Those who apply the epithet to the river make it signify 'cruel' or 'monstrous', and consider this a reference to the number of perilous whirlpools in its waters, whence Ovid remarks 'Et te vorticibus non adeunde Gela' (Fasti, 4, 470) - 'And you, Gela, whose whirlpools must not be approached'.
This coin dates from the high period of die engraving at Gela. Though the prosperity of the city was severely diminished when Gelon removed a large part of its inhabitants to Syracuse, many inhabitants subsequently returned and the city regained a part of its power, until the Carthaginian destruction of Gela's colony Akragas forced the citizens to turn to Dionysios I of Syracuse for help. The latter delayed, and Gela was left to defend itself, wherein the inhabitants made a valiant defence with even the women toiling to repair the battered walls at night. At last Dionysios arrived to lift the siege, but following an initial defeat, he resolved to abandon the city and under cover of night he removed his army and the population of the city to Syracuse. The city thus fell to the Carthaginians and was thoroughly sacked, the spoils including a famous statue of Apollo which was carried away to Tyre.
Good Extremely Fine; obv. from the usual worn die.
From the Angelo S. Collection;
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 64, 17 May 2012, lot 682;
Ex Nomos FPL 3, 2010, no. 11.
The city of Gela was jointly founded by colonists from Crete and Lindos, Rhodes, 45 years after the foundation of Syracuse, around 688 BC. The city took its name from the nearby river, which itself was given the appellation Gela on account of the icy coldness of its waters, the word gela meaning 'ice' in the languages of the Opici and Siculi, as it does in Latin.
Virgil applies the epithet immanis to Gela, which some believe is in reference to the river, others the city. The latter is more correct, and is an allusion to the horned, man-headed bull depicted on their coinage which is a personification of the river Gela itself. This image of the river-god is derived from that of Acheloüs, the 'father of all rivers'.
Those who apply the epithet to the river make it signify 'cruel' or 'monstrous', and consider this a reference to the number of perilous whirlpools in its waters, whence Ovid remarks 'Et te vorticibus non adeunde Gela' (Fasti, 4, 470) - 'And you, Gela, whose whirlpools must not be approached'.
This coin dates from the high period of die engraving at Gela. Though the prosperity of the city was severely diminished when Gelon removed a large part of its inhabitants to Syracuse, many inhabitants subsequently returned and the city regained a part of its power, until the Carthaginian destruction of Gela's colony Akragas forced the citizens to turn to Dionysios I of Syracuse for help. The latter delayed, and Gela was left to defend itself, wherein the inhabitants made a valiant defence with even the women toiling to repair the battered walls at night. At last Dionysios arrived to lift the siege, but following an initial defeat, he resolved to abandon the city and under cover of night he removed his army and the population of the city to Syracuse. The city thus fell to the Carthaginians and was thoroughly sacked, the spoils including a famous statue of Apollo which was carried away to Tyre.