Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 466 22 Apr 2020
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THRACE, Hadrianopolis. Gordian III. AD 238-244. Æ (26mm, 8.31 g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Hercules standing right, restraining Cretan bull by grabbing its horn and neck. Jurukova, Hadrianople 642 (V270/R616); Varbaov 3706. Dark green and brown surfaces, light roughness, weakly struck. VF.
From the David Wray Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 183 (5 March 2008), lot 112.
Compelled to capture the Cretan Bull, which had sired the Minotaur, as his seventh Labor, Herakles sailed to Crete. There, Minos the king of Crete, gave the hero permission to take the bull away, as it had been causing destruction on the island. Herakles strangled the bull with his bare hands, and shipped it back to Athens. Although Eurystheus wished to sacrifice the bull to Hera, the goddess refused the sacrifice because it reflected glory on her sworn enemy. The bull was released and wandered into the town of Marathon, where it became known as the Marathonian Bull.
From the David Wray Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 183 (5 March 2008), lot 112.
Compelled to capture the Cretan Bull, which had sired the Minotaur, as his seventh Labor, Herakles sailed to Crete. There, Minos the king of Crete, gave the hero permission to take the bull away, as it had been causing destruction on the island. Herakles strangled the bull with his bare hands, and shipped it back to Athens. Although Eurystheus wished to sacrifice the bull to Hera, the goddess refused the sacrifice because it reflected glory on her sworn enemy. The bull was released and wandered into the town of Marathon, where it became known as the Marathonian Bull.