Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXV 22-23 Sep 2022
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Nero Æ Contorniate. Rome, late 4th century AD. IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P M X (sic), laureate head of Nero to right; silver inlay palm-branch in right field / ACILLES PENTISILEA, Achilles, with sword and shield, advancing to right in the act of knocking the Amazon queen Penthesilea to the ground in order to kill her; horse to right and fallen arms in exergue. Mittag Nero XVIII/78; Alföldi 12. 39.03g, 42mm, 6h.
Very Fine; pierced with part of suspension loop still in hole. Extremely Rare.
From a private American collection;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 8, 31 May 2014, lot 862.
Penthesilea was an Amazonian queen in Greek mythology, the daughter of Ares and Otrera and the sister of Hippolyta, Antiope and Melanippe. While hunting deer, Penthesilea accidentally killed her sister Hippolyta with a spear; this accident caused Penthesilea so much grief that she wished only to die, but, as a warrior and an Amazon, she had to do so honourably and in battle. She therefore was easily convinced to join in the Trojan War, fighting on the side of Troy's defenders.
Penthesilea arrived in Troy the night before the fighting was due to recommence following Hector's death and funeral. She arrived with twelve companions and promised the Trojans that she would kill Achilles. On her first and only day of fighting, Penthesilea killed many men and tried to fight Telamonian Ajax, but he had merely laughed off her attempts, thinking her an unfit opponent. Ajax summoned Achilles, who with only one blow to her breastplate, knocked her to the ground. Penthesilea begged for her life, but an unmoved Achilles killed her and mocked her corpse; upon removing her helmet however he was struck by her beauty and felt a great remorse, whereupon he cradled the body of Penthesilea and lamented her death.
The Greek Thersites jeered at Achilles's treatment of Penthesilea's body, whereupon Achilles killed him. Thersites' cousin Diomedes, enraged at Achilles' action, harnessed Penthesilea's corpse behind his chariot, dragged it and cast it into the Scamander. Achilles retrieved the body and gave it a decent burial.
Very Fine; pierced with part of suspension loop still in hole. Extremely Rare.
From a private American collection;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 8, 31 May 2014, lot 862.
Penthesilea was an Amazonian queen in Greek mythology, the daughter of Ares and Otrera and the sister of Hippolyta, Antiope and Melanippe. While hunting deer, Penthesilea accidentally killed her sister Hippolyta with a spear; this accident caused Penthesilea so much grief that she wished only to die, but, as a warrior and an Amazon, she had to do so honourably and in battle. She therefore was easily convinced to join in the Trojan War, fighting on the side of Troy's defenders.
Penthesilea arrived in Troy the night before the fighting was due to recommence following Hector's death and funeral. She arrived with twelve companions and promised the Trojans that she would kill Achilles. On her first and only day of fighting, Penthesilea killed many men and tried to fight Telamonian Ajax, but he had merely laughed off her attempts, thinking her an unfit opponent. Ajax summoned Achilles, who with only one blow to her breastplate, knocked her to the ground. Penthesilea begged for her life, but an unmoved Achilles killed her and mocked her corpse; upon removing her helmet however he was struck by her beauty and felt a great remorse, whereupon he cradled the body of Penthesilea and lamented her death.
The Greek Thersites jeered at Achilles's treatment of Penthesilea's body, whereupon Achilles killed him. Thersites' cousin Diomedes, enraged at Achilles' action, harnessed Penthesilea's corpse behind his chariot, dragged it and cast it into the Scamander. Achilles retrieved the body and gave it a decent burial.