Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 117 15-16 Sep 2020
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Caracalla. Æ (18.60 g), AD 198-217. Cyprus. Laureate head of Caracalla to right. Reverse: Courtyard of the temple complex at the sanctuary of Paphian Aphrodite, with a conical cult xoanon within a central tower flanked by two flat-roofed shrines, each containing an incense burner and with a dove on the roof; before, circular forecourt with a dove; above, star in crescent. Parks 25; SNG Copenhagen 92; BMC 60-3. Nice contrasting earthen brown patina. Very Fine. Estimated Value $300 - UP
According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite was born from the seafoam created off the coast of Cyprus during Zeus' violent overthrow of his father Kronos. Following her birth, the goddess of love was said to have been carried to the shore near Paphos on a great scallop shell - an event later famously commemorated by Botticelli. Due to this association, a great temple dedicated to the goddess grew up at the city that became the preeminent shrine of Aphrodite, not only on Cyprus, but throughout the Greek world.
Despite the appeal to the Greeks, in reality, the central cult of Aphrodite at Paphos appears to have been derived from Syrian and Phoenician rather than Greek religious tradition. A dynasty of priests claiming descent from Cinyras, a mythical Cypriot king and culture hero, led religious observances centered on a conical black stone serving as the aniconic representation of the goddess and provided an oracle for those seeking divine wisdom. The oracle of Aphrodite Paphia is said to have foretold in AD 69 that Titus would one day become Emperor. Although nothing now survives but the foundation walls of the temple where all of this took place, the present coin gives a wonderfully detailed look at what the temple looked like after AD 76/7. In that year the original temple was destroyed by earthquake, but it was subsequently rebuilt. The post-earthquake version of the temple depicted here shows that it was built in a Graeco-Egyptian style with sculptures of doves - the sacred bird of Aphrodite - on the roof and enclosures for keeping the birds in the courtyard. This temple remained in operation for centuries more after its rebuilding, closing only in AD 391 by the order of Christian emperor Theodosius I.
Ex Tareq Hani Collection.
According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite was born from the seafoam created off the coast of Cyprus during Zeus' violent overthrow of his father Kronos. Following her birth, the goddess of love was said to have been carried to the shore near Paphos on a great scallop shell - an event later famously commemorated by Botticelli. Due to this association, a great temple dedicated to the goddess grew up at the city that became the preeminent shrine of Aphrodite, not only on Cyprus, but throughout the Greek world.
Despite the appeal to the Greeks, in reality, the central cult of Aphrodite at Paphos appears to have been derived from Syrian and Phoenician rather than Greek religious tradition. A dynasty of priests claiming descent from Cinyras, a mythical Cypriot king and culture hero, led religious observances centered on a conical black stone serving as the aniconic representation of the goddess and provided an oracle for those seeking divine wisdom. The oracle of Aphrodite Paphia is said to have foretold in AD 69 that Titus would one day become Emperor. Although nothing now survives but the foundation walls of the temple where all of this took place, the present coin gives a wonderfully detailed look at what the temple looked like after AD 76/7. In that year the original temple was destroyed by earthquake, but it was subsequently rebuilt. The post-earthquake version of the temple depicted here shows that it was built in a Graeco-Egyptian style with sculptures of doves - the sacred bird of Aphrodite - on the roof and enclosures for keeping the birds in the courtyard. This temple remained in operation for centuries more after its rebuilding, closing only in AD 391 by the order of Christian emperor Theodosius I.
Ex Tareq Hani Collection.