Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 124 23 Jun 2021
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Mysia, Cyzicus.
Stater circa 450-400, EL 16.05 g. Helios, naked, kneeling on r. knee and holding foreparts of two horses prancing l. and r. at his sides by bridles; below, tunny r. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. von Fritze 148. SNG von Aulock 7311 (these dies). SNG France 297. Boston 1515.
Extremely rare. A very interesting representation, exceptionally well
centred and complete. About extremely fine
Ex NAC 54, 2010, 106 and NAC 59, 2011, 606 sales.
This stater shows the radiate sun-god Helios holding the reins of two horses, all above a tunny fish, the badge of Cyzicus. Since at least the 6th Century B.C. the Greek sun-god was depicted as a charioteer whose task was to cross the sky from east to west in a chariot drawn by immortal steeds. This journey is most prominently captured on the south-east angle of the pediment in the Parthenon, where Helios is shown driving four horses upward. One of the most important myths of Helios, which demonstrates the power of his immortal horses, recounts how his son Phaethon begged for the chance to drive the chariot. Helios was only too aware of the danger, and tried to dissuade him. However, Phaethon could not be swayed, and so he was allowed to perform the duty for a single day. At one point during his journey Phaethon was overwhelmed, as he did not have the strength and experience to control the horses. The chariot of the sun came so close to the earth in some places it ignited fires, boiled rivers, dried up fountains and caused part of the human race to turn black in color. Alarmed by this turn of events, Zeus struck Phaethon with a bolt of lightning that ejected him from the chariot and into the river Eridanos.
For such an ancient and important god, Helios received surprisingly little cult worship from the Greeks; the only major cult was at Rhodes, where he was honored as the foremost god of the city. His greatest impact would not occur until the 3rd and 4th Centuries A.D., when Romans would worship him as Sol Invictus, a universal god whose worship helped pave the way for acceptance of the monotheistic faith of the Christians. Indeed, examples of early Christian art show Christ driving a chariot skyward as a metaphor for Ascension and Resurrection.
Stater circa 450-400, EL 16.05 g. Helios, naked, kneeling on r. knee and holding foreparts of two horses prancing l. and r. at his sides by bridles; below, tunny r. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. von Fritze 148. SNG von Aulock 7311 (these dies). SNG France 297. Boston 1515.
Extremely rare. A very interesting representation, exceptionally well
centred and complete. About extremely fine
Ex NAC 54, 2010, 106 and NAC 59, 2011, 606 sales.
This stater shows the radiate sun-god Helios holding the reins of two horses, all above a tunny fish, the badge of Cyzicus. Since at least the 6th Century B.C. the Greek sun-god was depicted as a charioteer whose task was to cross the sky from east to west in a chariot drawn by immortal steeds. This journey is most prominently captured on the south-east angle of the pediment in the Parthenon, where Helios is shown driving four horses upward. One of the most important myths of Helios, which demonstrates the power of his immortal horses, recounts how his son Phaethon begged for the chance to drive the chariot. Helios was only too aware of the danger, and tried to dissuade him. However, Phaethon could not be swayed, and so he was allowed to perform the duty for a single day. At one point during his journey Phaethon was overwhelmed, as he did not have the strength and experience to control the horses. The chariot of the sun came so close to the earth in some places it ignited fires, boiled rivers, dried up fountains and caused part of the human race to turn black in color. Alarmed by this turn of events, Zeus struck Phaethon with a bolt of lightning that ejected him from the chariot and into the river Eridanos.
For such an ancient and important god, Helios received surprisingly little cult worship from the Greeks; the only major cult was at Rhodes, where he was honored as the foremost god of the city. His greatest impact would not occur until the 3rd and 4th Centuries A.D., when Romans would worship him as Sol Invictus, a universal god whose worship helped pave the way for acceptance of the monotheistic faith of the Christians. Indeed, examples of early Christian art show Christ driving a chariot skyward as a metaphor for Ascension and Resurrection.