Nomos AG
obolos 16 11 Oct 2020
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CYCLADES, Keos. Karthaia. late 4th-early 3rd century BC. (Bronze, 19 mm, 5.35 g, 1 h). Youthful head of Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. [ΚΑΡΘΑ] Grape bunch; in left field, the dog-star, Sirius. HGC 6, 555. Joy 522-3. Papageorgiadou-Banis Group VII issue 2. Brown patina. Fine.
From the Vineyard Collection, ex Classical Numismatic Group 60, 22 May 2002, 592.
The reverse of this coin is perhaps most interesting for the star in the field, which has been identified as the dog-star, or Sirius. The star alludes to the myth of the cultural hero Aristaios, who in most geneologies was the son of Apollo and Kyrene and who features prominently on other coins from Karthaia. According to the myth, the Keians were suffering from a devastating heat and drought brought on by their lack of proper propitiation of the god Zeus Ikmaios. Aristaios, who had recently come to the island from Libya where he was born, built an altar to the god, who then relieved the suffering of the Keians by bringing refreshing winds and rains. Aristaios did not stay on Keos but traveled the western Mediterranean Sea, visiting the islands there and for a time even ruling over Sardinia. Later still he traveled to Thrace where he lived near Mt. Haimos and became initiated in the rites of Dionysos. It is this later association of Aristaios with Dionysiac religion the choice of types on this coin, Dionysos and his principal attribute, the grape bunch.
From the Vineyard Collection, ex Classical Numismatic Group 60, 22 May 2002, 592.
The reverse of this coin is perhaps most interesting for the star in the field, which has been identified as the dog-star, or Sirius. The star alludes to the myth of the cultural hero Aristaios, who in most geneologies was the son of Apollo and Kyrene and who features prominently on other coins from Karthaia. According to the myth, the Keians were suffering from a devastating heat and drought brought on by their lack of proper propitiation of the god Zeus Ikmaios. Aristaios, who had recently come to the island from Libya where he was born, built an altar to the god, who then relieved the suffering of the Keians by bringing refreshing winds and rains. Aristaios did not stay on Keos but traveled the western Mediterranean Sea, visiting the islands there and for a time even ruling over Sardinia. Later still he traveled to Thrace where he lived near Mt. Haimos and became initiated in the rites of Dionysos. It is this later association of Aristaios with Dionysiac religion the choice of types on this coin, Dionysos and his principal attribute, the grape bunch.