Larissa, Thessaly and Arethusa, Syracuse Coins

 

Larissa is the capital and largest city of the Thessaly region of Greece. According to Greek mythology it is said to be founded by Acrisius, who was killed accidentally by his grandson, Perseus. In mythology, the nymph Larissa was a daughter of the primordial man Pelasgus for whom the town was named. The area around Larissa was extremely fruitful, agriculturally important and in antiquity was known for its horses. The name Larissa is in origin a Pelasgian word for ''fortress''. It was a city-state during the Classical Era. 

                                      

Thessaly, Larissa, 395-344 BC, Stater

                                     

Location of Larissa, marked in blue in Greece

When Larissa ceased minting the federal coins, it shared with other Thessalian towns and adopted its own coinage in the late fifth century BC. It chose local types for its coins. Larissa, sometimes written Larisa on ancient coins and inscriptions, is near the site of the Homeric Argissa.  Despite its long history, Larissa only minted coins as an independent city-state for around 300 years. Larissa lost its independence around 344 BC, when Philip II (ruled 359-336 BC), King of Macedon and father of Alexander III ''the Great'' annexed the city. Thereafter, the area was taken over by kings of the Seleucid Empire. Despite that, it minted coins till the 3rd century BC. In 196 BC, Larissa became an ally of Rome and was one of the main cities in the Thessalian League, until it was disbanded in 146 BC.

A strong feature strongly reflected on its coinage is the head of the local nymph Larissa and a horse. Larissa, daughter of primordial king who drowned in the river Peneios was reborn as a water nymph.  

                                        

Larissa, Thessaly, Drachm, 365 BC, weight 6.0 gm, Obverse: Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, Reverse: Mare standing right, Foal standing right in the background

This style of coins was copied from the head of Arethusa Syracusan tetradrachms, depicted on by Cimon. Arethusa, as in Greek mythology was a nymph who fled from her home in Arcadia beneath the sea and came up as a freshwater fountain on the island of Ortygia in Syracuse, Sicily. On coins, as a patron figure of Syracuse, the head of Arethusa is surrounded by dolphins. these are regarded as among the most famous and beautiful Ancient Greek coins.

                                          

Location of Syracuse in Italy

                                       

Location of Syracuse, in Sicily

 

Among the master engraver towards the end of the fifth century BC who were allowed to sign their dies, none surpassed Kimon. His Syracusan tetradrachms bearing the almost facing head of Arethusa is widely recognized as the peak of his artistry. The goddess-nymph is shown beneath the water, her hair in elegant suspension amidst playful dolphins. Her gaze attracts the observer. The eyes are expressive. The overall impression created is of a superior being. Kimon's tetradrachms with the signed facing busts are very rare and prized. An example in extremely fine condition sold for a hammer price of $ 575000.                                        

Syracuse, Arethusa, Sicily, 405-400 BC, Tetradrachm, silver, weight 16.9 gm, Obverse: Arethusa facing slightly inclined to the left, wearing two necklaces, her hair flows on soft waves around her head, on the ampyx over the forehead, signature KIMON, on the right two dolphins swimming and a third emerging from the hair to the left, Reverse: Quadriga galloping to the left, the charioteer, holding reigns and Kentron, looks back at his pursuers, above Nike presenting a wreath to the charioteer, ear of barley in exergue

Thessaly, Larissa

Arethusa

Thessaly Larissa coin