Gordian III CILICIA, Tarsus. . AD 238-244. Æ 38mm, Medallion .Roman Empire

Description: CILICIA, Tarsus.Gordian III.AD 238-244. (38mm, 18.39 g, 7h). Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Double Ciliarch crowns set on prize table: the inner crown consisting of a diadem decorated with seven imperial busts right and joined to the outer crown by columns; the outer crown also consisting of a diadem decorated with seven imperial busts right; two Nikai flanking uppermost bust. SNG BN 1651 (same dies); RPC VII.2 Online 3044; SNG Levante 1135 (same obv. die). Dark brown patina. The Ciliarch or Cilicarch was the name for the High Priest of Cilicia who presided over. Tarsuswas acityin ancientCilicialocated in the modern-day province of Mersin,Turkey. It is one of the oldest continually inhabited urban centers in the world, dating back to theNeolithic Period. It was built close by the Cydnus River (modern-day Berdan River) and was an importanttradecenter for most of its history. It is best known as the birthplace ofSaint Paul(also known as Saul of Tarsus l. c. 5- c. 64 CE) and, according toPlutarch,Cleopatra VII(l. c. 69-30 BCE) metMark Antony(l. 83-30 BCE) aboard her ship outside the city's port-side gate, the ruins of which are a popular tourist attraction in the present day.Alexander the Great(l. 356-323 BCE) recuperated in Tarsus when he fell ill there after swimming in the Cydnus in 333 BCE after taking the city in hisconquestof Cilicia. Tarsus flourished under theHittitesc. 1700-1200 BCE, was sacked in the 12th or 13th century BCE (almost certainly by theSea Peoples), and resumed its former status as a vital trade center under the Assyrians (between c. 700-612 BCE), the Persians (between c. 547-333 BCE), next underAlexanderthe Great (between c. 333-323 BCE), and afterwards divided between two of his generals who founded theSeleucidand Ptolemaic empires, until the region was taken byRomein 103 BCE. provincial temples dedicated to certain emperors. The different busts which decorate the crown represent the various emperors who were honored at each respective temple.

Price: 850 USD

Location: Reading, Pennsylvania

End Time: 2024-02-14T16:29:39.000Z

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