221 AD - 235 AD

Anazarbus   Cilicia     Severus Alexander
Ανάζαρβος   Κιλικία   Σεουήρος Αλεξανδρος
 
 AE 35
 SHH 7112

7112 Anazarbus Cilicia Severus Alexander AE

Parameter

Obverse

Reverse



Notes
Reference
Provenance

Parameter
 24.91 g   34.9-36.0 mm   2.9 eqmm   7:00 o'clock   VF   centering - / +
σmax(SigmaTest, 240 kHz) = obv. 7.2, rev. 7.2 MS/m
Laureate draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander right;
AVT K M A CE AΛEΞANΔPOC clockwise around; border of dots.
Synthysia standing left, wearing modius and holding double-axe;
in the background, ox left looking back;
ANAZ ENΔOΞ MHTPO ET  HMC  clockwise around, CVNΘVCIA // OIKOVM in exergue;
in upper field, B to left, Γ to right; border of dots.
?
RPC VI 7338 temporary
Ex Numismatik Naumann 88/517, 5.4.2020

Electrical Conductivity σ [MS/m]. Sigmatest, coin center (0;0)
F [kHz]
x mm
 y mm
   60
 120
 240
 480
 960









obv.
0
 0
 5.9
 6.2
 6.2
 6.1
 6.0
rev.
0
 0
 6.3
 6.2
 6.0
 5.9
 5.7


   The female figure standing before the bull and holding the bipennis (double-headed axe) has been referred to as the personification of the Synthysia. The Synthysia was a joint sacrificial feast held by the city hosting the festive games. The feast would be attended by representatives from the participating cities, and given the imagery on this coin, it is likely that the proceedings involved, amongst other things, a whole lotta cow dismemberment. The meat from these sacrifices may also have been part of the prize awarded to winners of the games. I guess nothing says athletic gold like a bloody hunk of beef.

    These festivals and games appear to have been particularly important in the eastern provinces, and their coinage with agonistic designs appear with some frequency. In 3rd century issues from Cilician cities such as Tarsus and Anazarbus, we find quite a variety - those depicting the crown of the demiourgos (who organized the games), the gymnasiarch (who officiated), competing athletes, agonistic urns (or prize crowns as they are sometimes called) and others.

[https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancients-the-non-secular-games.244376/]