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Showcase Auction 61288 18 Sep 2022
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Ancients
LYDIA. Maeonia. Ca. 2nd-3rd centuries AD. AE (23mm, 3.12 gm, 6h). NGC AU 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, light smoothing. ΜΑΙΟ-ΝΩΝ, bearded head of Heracles left / ΕΠΙ ΔΗΜΗ-ΤΡΙΟΥ, Omphale advancing right, lion skin around shoulders, club over right shoulder. RPC III 2421.
From the Historical Scholar Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group, private sale with old dealer's tag
Omphale was a legendary queen of Lydia whose year-long interlude as the "dominatrix" mistress of the Greek hero Heracles presented ancient writers and artists an opportunity for erotic expression. After murdering his friend Iphitus in a drunken rage, Hercules was commanded by the Delphic Oracle to report to Omphale. They ordered him to serve her as an enslaved person and perform labors, similar to those he completed while serving Eurystheus. Omphale reportedly humiliated Heracles by making him wear women's clothing and spin wool, stereotypical female roles. Meanwhile, she wore his Nemean lion headdress and held his club. After a time, Omphale freed Heracles and "married" him in the Eastern fashion. There was an element of sexual role reversal in the narrative that both amused and titillated the ancients.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-provincial/ancients-lydia-maeonia-ca-2nd-3rd-centuries-ad-ae-23mm-312-gm-6h-ngc-au-5-5-3-5-fine-style-light-smooth/a/61288-95143.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61288-09182022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
LYDIA. Maeonia. Ca. 2nd-3rd centuries AD. AE (23mm, 3.12 gm, 6h). NGC AU 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, light smoothing. ΜΑΙΟ-ΝΩΝ, bearded head of Heracles left / ΕΠΙ ΔΗΜΗ-ΤΡΙΟΥ, Omphale advancing right, lion skin around shoulders, club over right shoulder. RPC III 2421.
From the Historical Scholar Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group, private sale with old dealer's tag
Omphale was a legendary queen of Lydia whose year-long interlude as the "dominatrix" mistress of the Greek hero Heracles presented ancient writers and artists an opportunity for erotic expression. After murdering his friend Iphitus in a drunken rage, Hercules was commanded by the Delphic Oracle to report to Omphale. They ordered him to serve her as an enslaved person and perform labors, similar to those he completed while serving Eurystheus. Omphale reportedly humiliated Heracles by making him wear women's clothing and spin wool, stereotypical female roles. Meanwhile, she wore his Nemean lion headdress and held his club. After a time, Omphale freed Heracles and "married" him in the Eastern fashion. There was an element of sexual role reversal in the narrative that both amused and titillated the ancients.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-provincial/ancients-lydia-maeonia-ca-2nd-3rd-centuries-ad-ae-23mm-312-gm-6h-ngc-au-5-5-3-5-fine-style-light-smooth/a/61288-95143.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61288-09182022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved