Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Live Auction 3 25 Oct 2018
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Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 450-330 BC. Gaia rising out of the earth, bearing in both hands the infant Erichthonios; tunny fish below to right / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 157, pl. V, 5; Greenwell 31; Boston MFA 1500 = Warren 1449; BMC 65; cf. SNG France 304 (hekte). 16.04g, 18mm.
About Good Very Fine. Very Rare.
This type depicts the myth of Erichthonios, a legendary early king of Athens. According to myth, the warrior goddess Athena was said to have visited the smith-god Hephaistos in order to request more arms be forged for her. Overcome by desire, Hephaistos attempted to seduce Athena, and when he was rebuffed, chased her and tried to rape her. Though Athena fought him off, in the struggle Hephaistos' seed fell upon her thigh. In disgust, she wiped it from her leg and flung it to the earth. Upon contact with Gaia, the earth-goddess, an autochthonous boy was born and named Erichthonios (earth-shaker). This coin depicts the moment the new-born boy was presented by the personified Earth to the goddess of wisdom. Athena accepted the child, and gave him to the three daughters of Kekrops, the first king of Athens, in a box for safekeeping, warning the three daughters never to open it. Overcome by curiosity the sisters decided to take a fateful look inside, and the sight that greeted them (depending on the version of the myth) was the infant Erichthonios who either was encircled by a snake, or was himself half-man and half-serpent. Terrified and driven mad, the daughters threw themselves from the cliff-face of the Acropolis (or were killed by the snake). In this depiction of the myth, the pair are classically idealised, perhaps (as suggested by Greenwell) inspired by a statue group. This coin, with its clear pro-Athenian type, was almost certainly struck during the period of the city's membership of the Delian League (478-411 BC).
About Good Very Fine. Very Rare.
This type depicts the myth of Erichthonios, a legendary early king of Athens. According to myth, the warrior goddess Athena was said to have visited the smith-god Hephaistos in order to request more arms be forged for her. Overcome by desire, Hephaistos attempted to seduce Athena, and when he was rebuffed, chased her and tried to rape her. Though Athena fought him off, in the struggle Hephaistos' seed fell upon her thigh. In disgust, she wiped it from her leg and flung it to the earth. Upon contact with Gaia, the earth-goddess, an autochthonous boy was born and named Erichthonios (earth-shaker). This coin depicts the moment the new-born boy was presented by the personified Earth to the goddess of wisdom. Athena accepted the child, and gave him to the three daughters of Kekrops, the first king of Athens, in a box for safekeeping, warning the three daughters never to open it. Overcome by curiosity the sisters decided to take a fateful look inside, and the sight that greeted them (depending on the version of the myth) was the infant Erichthonios who either was encircled by a snake, or was himself half-man and half-serpent. Terrified and driven mad, the daughters threw themselves from the cliff-face of the Acropolis (or were killed by the snake). In this depiction of the myth, the pair are classically idealised, perhaps (as suggested by Greenwell) inspired by a statue group. This coin, with its clear pro-Athenian type, was almost certainly struck during the period of the city's membership of the Delian League (478-411 BC).