Nomos AG
obolos 16 11 Oct 2020
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PISIDIA. Antiochia. Commodus, 177-192. (Bronze, 21 mm, 5.51 g, 6 h). L AELLO COMMODO Laureate head of Commodus to left. Rev. COLONEIAE ANTIOCH Mên standing facing, head turned to right, left foot resting on bucranium, holding scepter in right hand and Nike in left; to left, cock standing left. Cf. Krzyźanowska IX/6 (die combination not recorded). Cf. RPC IV Online temp. 7378 (obv. legend). SNG BN -. Attractive light brown patina; unusual title for Commodus. Good very fine.
Mên was a Phrygian lunar deity with roots in both Mesopotamian and Zoroastrian religion. In central and western Asia Minor he was often worshiped in association with the goddess Anahita. At Antiochia in Pisidia, which was a Roman colony with legionaires stationed nearby, there was a large temple complex to Mên Askaenos. The inscriptions in the temple all date to the colonial period, and suggest his cult was highly regarded by the Roman soldiers in the area similar to that of the god Mithras, who also had lunar elements to his worship.
Mên was a Phrygian lunar deity with roots in both Mesopotamian and Zoroastrian religion. In central and western Asia Minor he was often worshiped in association with the goddess Anahita. At Antiochia in Pisidia, which was a Roman colony with legionaires stationed nearby, there was a large temple complex to Mên Askaenos. The inscriptions in the temple all date to the colonial period, and suggest his cult was highly regarded by the Roman soldiers in the area similar to that of the god Mithras, who also had lunar elements to his worship.