Ancient Coin showing The Star of Bethlehem

 

Could the 50-dollar purchase of an ancient coin by a Rutgers astronomer have unlocked the mystery of the Christmas star? For two millennia, scientists have searched the heavens in vain for an astronomical explanation of The Star of Bethlehem. Intrigued by an image of a Ram looking back at a star that he found on the coin, Michael decided to research and that he did. 

Astronomer and coin collector Michael Molnar presents evidence that the reverse of an ancient bronze coin depicts the astronomical event referenced around the time of birth of Christ. 

                                               

         

In 1999, Dr Michael Molnar, published "The Star of Bethlehem-The legacy of the Magi". His findings included the meaning behind the "Ram and Star" coin from Antioch along with the most likely "heavenly alignment" constituting the "Star of Bethlehem". He concluded that the design was meant to recognize the birth of the Messiah in Judaea and that His birth occurred on April 17, 6 BC. 

                                           

 The Star of Bethlehem-The Legacy of the Magi by Michael Molnar

He based his conclusions on the interpretation of scriptures along with ancient writings regarding astrology. His research was sparked by the scene on the reverse of the coin. The coin was minted in 6 AD in Antioch which was one of the centers of early Christianity. Ancient writings show that Judea was represented by the Ram Aries in the zodiac and particular position of other heavenly bodies.

                                                  

Seleucis ad Pieria, Antioch Silanus, legatus Syriae, 12-13 circa, weight 7.7 gm

Obverse: laureate bearded head of Zeus

Reverse: Ram running, head turned, above star, below date, year 43 of the caesarean era

According to Molnar, Jupiter underwent two occultations (eclipses) by the moon in Aries in 6 BC. The second occultation on April 17 coincided precisely when Jupiter was "in the east" a condition mentioned twice in the biblical account of the Star of Bethlehem. In August of that year Jupiter became stationary and then "went before" through Aries where it became stationary again on Dec 19, 6 BC. This is when the regal planet "stood over", a secondary royal portent also described in the Bible.

                                                 

                      Description of the reverse of the coin

Molnar found an unusual array of planets occurring in Aries during 6 BC, which the Magi recognized as a divine birth in Judea. This unique alignment is represented by the star next to the Ram's head. The diagram below, from his book, shows the position of 7 heavenly bodies at sunrise and at mid-heaven. At sunrise, Venus rises first while in Pieces. Venus is followed by Saturn, Moon, Jupiter and the Sun, located in Aries. Finally, Mars and Mercury appeared in Taurus.

                                            

Position of the planets at sunrise on April 17, 6 BC (from Molnar)

The alignment shown below is at the highest point in daytime sky. All planets kept their alignment, except Jupiter which passes behind the moon just after sunrise. This special alignment is called the "Star of Bethlehem". Matthew 2:1-7 says, "Now after Jesus is born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship him.

                                              

Position of the planets at mid-heaven on April 17, 6 BC (from Molnar)

According to the astrology, what happened on April 17, 6 BC was the most "Regal" or "Divine" set of signs possible. Only the Magi would have recognized this unique arrangement.

Molnar's findings have been collaborated utilizing a new astronomy program called Stellarium. By adjusting the program to the correct date, direction and location, the alignment and movements of all these heavenly bodies can be viewed and studied. Figure below is an image of sunrise on April 17, 6 BC. The occultation of Jupiter by the moon is clearly visible.

                                               

Image from the Stellarium software showing the alignment of the heavenly bodies just after sunrise on April 17, 6 BC.

Over the years this pattern on coins is seen from 6 AD to about 253 AD. The dates of these clusters signify birth year of 6 BC and crucifixion year of 30 AD, and the leaders in Antioch, a semi-autonomous city, issued coins with the Ram and Star design to commemorate the birth and /or crucifixion of Yeshua Ha Machiach  

Michael Molnar completed his PhD in1971.There are various views on the findings of this research, and many do not agree with them. It has been debated by scientists, theologians, historians, astrologers and astronomers very often.

The Star of Bethlehem

The Star of Bethlehem Coin

The Star of Bethlehem

The Star Of Bethlehem

German East Africa & the Rupie

 

The German East Africa Company originated in 1884, with the aim of trading in Africa with present day Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. A revolt along the coast of what is now Tanzania in 1889 led to intervention by the German navy. The Company was sold to the German government which began to rule German East Africa (GEA). Thus, was created German East Africa (1885-1918) which included present day Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania mainland and the Kionga triangle of Mozambique. 

                                

                                      Coat of Arms

                               

                             Flag of German East Africa

            

It ended with Imperial Germany's defeat in World War I. Ultimately, German East Africa was divided between Britain, Belgium and Portugal and was reorganized as a mandate of the League of Nations.  

                              

Historical map of the German East Africa coast, 1888

The rupee was the major silver coin in India and on the Indian subcontinent. Being a popular trade coin, the rupee reached the shores of East Africa in the 19th century. When the German colonial armies came there and found a well-established rupee currency used since the second half of the 19th century, which was preferred to the American dollar and the Maria Theresa Thaler. Initially the administration of German East Africa lay in the hands of German East African Company. The company did not change the existing currency, but quite contrary, started to issue rupee itself. The German colonial coins were minted in Berlin and shipped to Africa. The obverse depicted the German Emperor Wilhelm II (1888-1918), while the reverse bore the coat of arms of the German East African Company, a lion under a coconut tree.

The Rupie was the currency of German East Africa between 1890 and 1916, continuing to circulate in Tanganyika Territory until 1920.

                               

One Rupie, silver, Wilhelm II, 1904, weight 11.66 gm

Obverse: Helmeted half-length figure in uniform,

Reverse: Value within palm branches

 

The Rupie was initially equivalent to the Indian rupee. In 1890, silver one- and two-rupee coins were introduced, followed the next year by silver quarter and half rupee coins Until 1904, it was divided into 64 Pesa. The currency was decimalized on 28 February 1904, with one-rupee equivalent to100 Heller. At the same time, a fixed exchange rate of 15 Rupien equal to 20 German Mark was established.

                              

Two Rupien, silver, Wilhelm II, 1893, weight 23.3 gm

Obverse: Helmeted half length figure in uniform,

Reverse: Shield, Palm tree with lion in front

                               

Half Rupie, silver, Wilhelm II, 1906, weight 5.8 gm

Obverse: Helmeted half length figure in uniform,

Reverse: Value within palm branches

             

                             

Quarter Rupie, silver, Wilhelm II, 1907, weight 2.9 gm

Obverse: Helmeted half length figure in uniform,

Reverse: Value within palm branches

In 1905, the Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Bank introduced notes for 5, 10, 50 and 100 Rupien and in 1912 for 500 Rupien

                              

                                         5 Rupien

                                   

                                          10 Rupien

                                   

                                          50 Rupien
                               

                               

                                             100 Rupien

 

In 1915 and 1916 during World War I, a large series of emergency issues of paper money were issued.

                                   

                                         1 Rupie
 

                                   

                                       5 Rupien

             

                                    

                                          10 Rupien

                                     

                                        20 Rupien

                                     

                                          200 Rupien

                                   

1916 also saw a final issue of coins to pay German led troops, including 15 Rupien coins which contained an equal amount of gold to equal 15 German Marks. The rupee was replaced in 1920. 

                                   

15 Rupien, gold, weight 7.16 gm

Obverse: value

Reverse: African Elephant with raised trunk in front of Klimanjaro 

Courtesy: Wikipedia, RealBanknotes,

            

Ashkelon (Ancient Seaport), Philistine & Coins

 

Ashkelon or Ashqelon (Hebrew), also known as Ascalon (Arabic) is a coastal city in the Southern District of Israel on the Mediterranean coast. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Neolithic Age of 5880 BC.  

                                               

Ashqelon as mentioned on "Merneptah Stele" which is an inscription by ancient Egyptian Pharoah Merneptah, discovered in 1896 at Thebes and now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo

                                                  

The Kingdom of Israel and Judah, 924 to 722 BC, showing Ashkelon

The ancient city's name appears in Egyptian texts of about 19th century BC. It is also mentioned in the "Amarna Letters"(cache of clay tablets discovered in Egypt) of the 14th century BC and in the "Old Testament". 

                                             

      Tele Amara letters, Louvre Museum

It has been ruled by ancient Egyptians, Canaanites (2500-1150 BC), the Philistines (1150-604 BC), the Assyrians (604-330 BC), the Babylonians, the Greeks (330-160 BC), the Romans (63-100 BC), the Persians, the Arabs and the Crusaders, until it was destroyed completely by the Mamluks in 1270 AD. 

Ashkelon was prosperous from very early in the 19th century BC. In around 1200 BC, the Philistines who migrated to the coastal plain of Israel settled in five major cities. This was one of the five Philistine city-states (along with Gaza, Gath, Ekron and Ashdod). It was from this designation that the whole of the country was later called Palestine. 

                                                 

Palestine during the time of David and Solomon

The Bible wrote about the Philistine invasion (Amos 9 7) "Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor...." Caphtor is the island of Cypress. The records are also inscribed in the mortuary temple of Ramses III at Madinat Habu, where they appear as ' the sea people that invaded Egypt about 1190 BC. After being repulsed by the Egyptians, they settled on the plains in the five cities known as Philistia, or the land of the Philistines. 

 

It was subjected to Assyrian rule about 735 BC, and they ruled for about a hundred years. The Babylon empire thereafter ruled around 609 BC. Ashkelon was conquered in 604 BC, destroyed and its people taken into exile.

                           

Philistine captives, depicted at Medinet Habu, Thebes, Egypt

           

Subsequently the city was captured by Alexander the Great in 323 BC. 

                                             

Peutinger Roman 4th century Military map section near Ashkelon written in Greek as "Ascalon" (above the top twin houses)

The city plays a role in biblical histories too. Ashqelon was conquered by the Arabs in 636 AD. The Jews survived the Arab conquest, however the community suffered when captured by the Crusaders in 1153 AD, and it became one of the principal ports and strongholds.  It was a trading center linking Egypt with Syria and Mesopotamia.  

It was eventually taken over by Saladin, who destroyed its huge walls surrounding the city. A century later the city lay in ruins, Mameluke king Bybars captured and completely demolished it, filled up the port of Ashkelon, and left it desolate. Ashkelon was never built again, and the site remained uninhabited until the mid-20th century. 

Present day Ashkelon lies 19 km north of Gaza and 2 km northeast of the ancient city site although some part may be built upon the ruins of past civilizations. 

                                            

Ashkelon, successive layers of civilization

The first excavations of the ruins, now known as Tel Ashkelon, were carried out by the Palestine Exploration Fund in 1920-22. It was thereafter excavated in 1954 by French archeologist Jean Perrot. In 1997-98, a large-scale salvage project was conducted at the site and a final report published in 2008.

                                                   

Roman ruins at Ashkelon, remains of the small Byzantine church called "Santa Maria Viridis"

                                            

                Excavations at Ashkelon

                                            

 Restored Canaanite city gate at Ashkelon.

Coins of Ashkelon

                                            

Ashkelon, Palestine, mid 5th century BC, 

Obverse: Female head right

Reverse: Owl standing facing, wings spread

                                         

Ashkelon, Palestine, date on coin 176, year AD 72-73, weight 4.3 gm, Obverse: Turreted veiled and draped bust of Tyche right.

Reverse; Galley sailing left, date above.

                                            

Ashkelon, Claudius I, 42-43 AD, weight 13.1 gm

Obverse: Tyche standing left on prow, wearing turreted crown, long chiton and peplos resting right arm on standard and holds in left, aphlaston

Reverse: Laureate bust of Claudius, right 

                                            

Ashkelon, Vespasian, dated year 185 on coin, AD 78-79, weight 10 gm. Obverse: Laureate head left.

Reverse: Tyche standing left, dove above date

                                            

Trajan of Ashkelon, year 213 on coin, AD 109-110,

Obverse: Laureate bust right

Reverse: Tyche standing left, alter to her left, dove to her right, holding spear 

                                            

Ashkelon, Trajan, year 209. AD 105-106,

Obverse: Laureate head right

Reverse: Goddess standing let on prow, holding standard and aphlaston, altar in field to left, dove to right

                                           

                                              

Ashkelon, Date 176, AD 72, weight 4.4gm

Obverse; Veiled and draped bust of Tyche right.

Reverse: Gallet sailing left, date above 

  

Courtesy: British Museum, wild winds.

                

                 Ashkelon National Park, beach and historical park

                 Tel Ashkelon-BibleWalks

Few "Forgotten Queens" from Indian History & their Coins

 

There have been some extraordinary Indian Queens who deserve to be given greater importance in Indian history. They have been brave, fierce, powerful and prominent rulers who were stellar examples of legendary women power in Indian history. Their stories are immortalized on their coinage and need to be highlighted.                                                                       

                                Queen Rudramadevi

Queen Agathokleia. She was an Indo-Greek queen who ruled in parts of northern India in the 2nd century CE. She was amongst the first woman to rule a Hellenistic Kingdom. She seems to have associated herself with Athena, goddess of war that was the dynastic deity of the family of Menander. Most of her coins were struck with her son Strato I. In the civil wars after Menander's death, the Indo-Greek empire was divided, with Agathokleia and her younger son Strato I, maintaining themselves in the eastern territories of Gandhara and Punjab. As her son was too young to govern when he inherited the throne, she acted as regent for several years until Strato I came of age. 

                               

Agathokleia, drachm, 135-125 BCE, weight 2.35 gm

Obverse: Diademed bust of queen right, Greek legend around

Reverse: Diademed king walking right, holding bow, arrow and spear, monogram at right

                             

Agathokleia with Strato I, 135-125 BCE, weight 9.6 gm

Obverse: Diademed busts of king and queen right, Greek legend around

Reverse: Seen from behind Athena standing left, holding shield and hurling thunderbolt, monogram at left

Queen Naganika. Amongst the earliest queens to have issued coins in her name lived around the 1st century BC, in Western India. This Satavahana queen was the wife of Satakarni I, the first major ruler of the Satavahana dynasty of the Deccan region. She was the ruler and the military commander of the Satavahana Empire. The inscription at Naneghat near Junnar commissioned by the queen around 75-30 BC, gives out the details of glory and the might of the king and the queen. The discovery of her coins help understanding one of the greatest empires of this period. The inscription also states how the matrimonial alliance of the queen who was the daughter of Maharathi King Tranakiya, ruler of parts of Maharashtra with Satakarni led to building of the great empire, from the earlier Satavahana rulers who controlled a small section of the present-day Andhra region. 

                             

                         Inscription at Naneghat
                        

Satavahana, Naganika, copper bell metal,1st century AD, weight 6.7 gm

Obverse: Brahmi legend reads, 'Nagamnikaya' and 'Kanisa'

Reverse: Ujjaini symbol with swastika in orbs

                                                                   

Kashmir's Women Rulers. The "Nilamata Purana" also known as the "Kasmira Mahatmaya" is an ancient text (6th to 7th century CE) from Kashmir which contains information of its history. It is used by Kalhana as one of its sources. Kalhana in "Rajatarangini", his treatise on Kashmiri Kings from ancient times, written between 1149-50 CE) mentions about some of the women rulers of Kashmir. Amongst the famous rulers have been Sugandha Devi (904-906 CE), of the Utpala dynasty, and Rani Didda (980-1003 CE), of the Viradeva dynasty. 

Rani Sugandha Devi. Her marriage to Shankaravarman (CE 883-902) of the Utpala dynasty catapulted him to an exalted political status since she belonged to a powerful family. She is documented to having accompanied her husband on military expeditions and was a force to reckon with. After Shankaravarman's death, she displayed sagacity and ruled the kingdom as a regent initially, and she ruled Kashmir from 905 to 907 AD, until she was dethroned. Her coinage is important corroborative evidence of her power and refers to her by the masculine epithet, Sri Sugandha Deva.

                             

Sugandha Devi, 903-905 AD, weight 5.8 gm

Obverse: enthroned Ardoxsho facing, nagari legend, Sri on left, SuGa on right

Reverse: King standing, nagari legend DeVa on right

           

                           

           Similar coin as the one above with dialect 

                        

Didda Rani. (924 AD-1003 CE), also known as 'The Catherine of Kashmir', like the Catherine of Russia who was ruthless and ruled for a long time. She represents women power at its vibrant peak in Kashmir. She was the granddaughter of the powerful Bhima Shahi, the ruling family of Lohara which ruled some of the area south of Poonch, of the present day. Following the death of her husband in 958 CE, she ruled as a regent for her son Abhimanyu. In 972 when her son died, she became a regent again, for her grandson, Bhimagupta. Her rule of nearly 50 years spanned her husband, Kshemagupta's lifetime, period of her regency and her rule as a formal sovereign. She was clever, manipulative and ruthless. She was lame, referred to as footless but could walk and is supposed to have been taken around and accompanied by a woman called Vagla. She issued coins in her name as 'Sri Didda deva' refer to her by the masculine epithet. Kalhana wrote "the lame queen who no one had thought capable of stepping over a cow's footprint got over the host of her enemies just as Hanuman got over the oceans."

                              

Didda Rani, 979-1003 AD, weight 6.01 gm

Obverse: Goddess Lakshmi seated facing, nagari legend Sri/ Didda

Reverse: King standing sacrificing at altar, nagari legend Devya at right

                             

         Similar coin as the one above with dialect 

Rani Rudramadevi (1262-1289 AD). The legendary queen who ruled from Orugallu, the present-day Warangal, had no male siblings and was brought up like a "son" by her father Ganapathideva, and even assumed the male name of Rudradeva Maharaja. She wore male attire and took over the reign at the age of 14 years and brought stability to Kakatiya rule, won many battles, especially against the Yadavas of Devagiri, and kept the Pandyas and Cholas at bay. She began to rule conjointly with her father as co-regent from 1259 AD onwards and assumed full sovereignty in 1262-62 AD but was crowned queen in 1269 AD after the death of her father.

                                

                 Kakatiya Kingdom: 1262-1296, AD

                               

                           Queen Rudramadevi

                           

  

        

Rudramadevi gold pagoda, with Boar (Varaha) in the center with Kannada legend "Raaya Gaja Kesari" meaning "Lion to the Elephant like enemies."

Two sequential sculptures found at Bollikunta village in Warangal District of Telangana show (as per Archeological Survey of India) that she lost her life fighting against Ambadeva, of Valluru Kingdom. around 1272 AD.

                             

Excavations: Rudramadevi riding a horse with a sword raised. Her arms and wrists are embellished with warrior shields. A majestic umbrella, the royal insignia is overhead. She is wearing a waist belt and a robe of a male warrior. 

                         

Rani Mangamma ruled Madurai Nayak Kimgdom for 15 years from 1689 to 1704 AD. She was a courtesan from Tiruvellore near Chennai. She was very beautiful and talented. Her name was Kanka. She reached Thanjavur in search of a career, but Vijaraghava of Thanjavur intended to take her to his harem and so she fled. She married Chokkanatha Nayaka of Madurai. Mangamma alias Kanaka survived her husband and her son, and after the demise of the later in 1689 ruled the kingdom till 1707 as a regent during the minor age of her grandson. During a critical phase, while facing Aurangzeb on one side and the rulers of Mysore, Thanjavur, Ramnathapuram and Travancore on the other side, she very shrewdly approved the supremacy of the Mughal emperor and agreed to pay him an annual tribute for the sake of her kingdom. She fought a number of wars and was compared to Cleopatra in beauty. She was however thrown into prison by her grandson's coteries, and she died there.

                               

Sculpture showing Rani Mangamma on a horse. 

                            

                            Rani Mangamma             

                          Statue of Rani Mangammal

                                  

Madurai Nayakas, Mangamma, Kasu, weight 1.4 gm

Obverse: Lord Ganesh seated

Reverse: counter struck with Persian legend

Queen Calliope was an Indo-Greek queen. She was the wife of a Eucratid dynasty King, called Hermaeus, who ruled the Paropamisade in the Hindu-Kush region around 90 BCE. Queen Calliope appears on the coinage of her husband. The silver coin depicts the conjoined bust of both king and queen. This coin was issued around 90-70 BCE. This coin depicts her authority as the joint sovereign over the kingdom.

                               

Hermaios and Calliope, 90-70 BCE, 

Obverse: Diademed busts of king and queen, Greek legend around

Reverse: Helmeted king on a horse, kharoshti legend around 

  

Somalekha Devi / Somala Devi. (1110-1125 AD). The Queen of the Chauhan dynasty, her name appeared on the coins as the joint ruler with her husband and King Aiaya Raja. (Who established the city of Ajayameru, present day Ajmer). They were billion drachmas, and the reverse of these coins bore a crude horseman and the queen's name, 'Somala Devi' on the obverse. Even after the death of the queen, Somala Devi coinage continued. This indicated that she remained popular even after.

                                  

 

Chahmanas of Ajmer, Somalekha/ Somaladevi, queen of Ajaya Deva (1110-1125 AD), weight 2.9 gm

Obverse: Horseman riding to right

Reverse: Nagari legend, Shri Soma

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