Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 494 23 Jun 2021
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THRACE, Deultum. Diadumenian. As Caesar, AD 217-218. Æ (24mm, 7.47 g, 12h). Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / The Rescue of Andromeda: Perseus standing left, holding head of Medusa, rescuing Andromeda from rocky slope; dead sea-monster at Perseus's feet; harpa to right. Draganov 192a (O35/R588; this coin); Varbanov 2205 = CNG 54, lot 1081. Rough brown patina. VF. Very rare mythological type.
Perseus, the slayer of Medusa, was returning from this task, when he caught sight of a naked woman chained to a sea-cliff, and instantly fell in love with her. This was the princess Andromeda, daughter of King Kepheus of Joppa and Kassiopeia. Kassiopeia had boasted that both she and Andromeda were more beautiful than the Nereids, who then complained about this insult to their protector, Poseidon. Poseidon sent a flood and a female sea-monster to devastate Philistia (Palestine) – the home of Kassiopeia and Andromeda.
When the king consulted an oracle, he was told that his only hope was to sacrifice Andromeda to the sea-monster. This was Andromeda's predictament when Perseus happened upon her. Perseus killed the sea-monster and took Andromeda as his wife, but only after using Medusa's head to turn Kassiopeia and Kepheus to stone after they broke their bargain with him for saving their daughter.
Perseus, the slayer of Medusa, was returning from this task, when he caught sight of a naked woman chained to a sea-cliff, and instantly fell in love with her. This was the princess Andromeda, daughter of King Kepheus of Joppa and Kassiopeia. Kassiopeia had boasted that both she and Andromeda were more beautiful than the Nereids, who then complained about this insult to their protector, Poseidon. Poseidon sent a flood and a female sea-monster to devastate Philistia (Palestine) – the home of Kassiopeia and Andromeda.
When the king consulted an oracle, he was told that his only hope was to sacrifice Andromeda to the sea-monster. This was Andromeda's predictament when Perseus happened upon her. Perseus killed the sea-monster and took Andromeda as his wife, but only after using Medusa's head to turn Kassiopeia and Kepheus to stone after they broke their bargain with him for saving their daughter.