Le più belle rappresentazioni di guerrieri

[eracle62]

13 ore fa, King John dice:

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.

Electronic Auction 385, 26/10/2016, Hammer 75

Anonymous. After 211 BC. Æ Uncia (17mm, 3.94 g, 9h). Rome mint. Helmeted head of Roma right; • (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley right; • (mark of value) below. Crawford 56/7; Sydenham 143e; Type as RBW 215; McCabe Group G3. VF, dark brown surfaces. Attractive. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.Cr.56 uncia. McCabe (Essays Russo, 2013) pp. 169-172, type G3. [A. McCabe]

ILLUSTRAZIONE: L'ASSEDIO DI CARTAGINE

Pensa ad una scena come questa incisa su un conio...anche non troppo dettagliata , ma la visione d'insieme è straordinaria,,

[King John]

Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Auction 12Auction date: 22 January 2017Lot number: 673
Price realized: 70 EUR   (Approx. 75 USD)  
Constans AD 337-350. Aquileia, 3rd officina
Centenionalis Æ
21mm., 3,94g.
D N CONSTA-NS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left, holding globe in right hand / FEL TEMP REPAR-ATIO, soldier advancing right, head left, holding spear and leading small figure from a hut beneath a tree; AQT dot in exergue.
good very fine

[King John]

Agora Auctions

Sale 27, lot 161, 24/02/2015

Roman Imperial 
Gallienus. A.D. 253-268. BI antoninianus (20.8 mm, 2.58 g, 4 h). Antioch mint, Struck A.D. 263-264. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS AVG, Soldier standing left, holding shield and spear, star in left field .  RIC 668; RSC 1236. gVF, fully silvered.

[King John]

The New York Sale

Auction XIV, lot 227, 10/01/2007, Hammer 600 USD

ROMAN COINS
ROMAN EMPIRE
AUGUSTUS, 27 BC - AD 14.
No.: 227
Estimate: $ 750
d=19 mm
Denarius, moneyer L. Aquilius Florus, about 19 BC. AR 3.79 g. AVGVSTVS - CAESAR Bare head r. Rev. L. AQVILLIVS. FLO-RVS. III.VIR / SICIL Roman soldier (Mn. Aquilius) standing facing, head turned r., holding shield in his l. hand, raising with his r. hand half-prostrate Sicilia. RIC 63, 310. C. 366. BN I, 80, 186. Rare. Rough surface.
Good very fine

Manio Aquilio probabilmente era figlio del console del 129. Legato di C. Mario nella guerra cimbrica e poi console con lui nel 101 a. C., gli fu affidata la guerra che durava da tre anni in Sicilia contro gli schiavi ribelli capitanati da Atenione, che aveva sconfitto parecchi pretori romani. Aquilio lo vinse e l'uccise di sua mano in un corpo a corpo (a cui fa riferimento la moneta di questo post), riportando varie ferite, e nel 100, come proconsole, pose termine alla guerra. Ebbe l'ovatio. Accusato subito dopo de repetundis, e palesemente reo, fu tuttavia difeso e fatto assolvere dal celebre oratore M. Antonio, che denudato il petto dell'accusato, fece vedere ai giudici le cicatrici riportate in guerra. Inviato nel 90 in Asia alla testa di una legazione per riporre sul trono i re Nicomede di Bitinia e Ariobarzane di Cappadocia cacciati da Mitridate, condusse per avidità di denaro le cose in modo, che nell'88 scoppiò la guerra fra Roma e il re del Ponto. Questi batté prima Nicomede, e poi sconfisse a Protopachion, presso il Sangario, lo stesso Aquilio, che fuggì a Pergamo e poi a Mitilene. Ma i Mitilenei lo consegnarono a Mitridate, che odiandolo come autore principale della guerra, lo fece ignominiosamente condurre in giro per le città dell'Asia, fino a Pergamo ove morì (secondo alcune fonti gli fu colato l'oro fuso in gola). Da Treccani.it

Modificato 21 Agosto, 2018 da King John

[eracle62]

Magnifico tondello, come sempre parlanti con poco..

p.s. Ogni volta che mi capita di incrociare nei musei i busti del periodo classico rimango incantato..

Scolpire in quel modo..

[King John]

MONETA IN BASSO SULLA SINISTRA:

Carthago Nova. Time of Hannibal, c. 221-208 BC. AR Double Shekel (14.7g) struck c. 220 BC. Minted at Carthago Nova, ca. 220 BC. Laureate, bearded head left of Herakles-Melqart(?), the strongly Semitic features suggesting Hamilcar Barca (father of Hannibal), with heavy, knotted club over far shoulder. Reverse : Mahout wearing long cloak and cap(?), holding goad in right hand, and riding African elephant right. CNH 13 (same dies ); Gulbenkian 389 (same dies ); Robinson, Essays-Mattingly , 6a ( same dies ). Boldly struck in high relief and well centered. A powerful portrait of the finest style of the period. Probably the finest known specimen . Superb Extremely Fine. .
Rome's success in the First Punic War (241 BC) and the subsequent uprising of the former Punic allies in North Africa (the Libyan Revolt) forced the Carthaginians to reassess their formerly dominant position in the western Mediterranean region. Hamilcar Barca, a member of a noted aristocratic family of Carthage, made his eldest son Hannibal swear a sacred oath to "never be a friend of Rome." The family then moved to Spain "to call a new world into existence to redress the balance of the old." Here Hamilcar began preparations for an attack on the Roman Republic, but he was not destined to live to see the fulfillment of his plans. His son-in-law and successor Hasdrubal (228-221 BC), the founder of Carthago Nova, continued the work, and in 218/217 BC Hannibal was ready to launch the invasion into Italy. Rome was totally unprepared for a wintertime attack from the north, and, thus, the epic story of Hannibal's crossing of the Alps with a contingent of elephants has become the stuff of legend. In the ensuing fifteen-year war, Hannibal ultimately failed to bring about the destruction of the Roman Republic, but of all Rome's opponents he came closest to overthrowing the state that was to dominate the Mediterranean region over the following six hundred years. This silver double shekel is one of the rarest and most remarkable types of the Barcid coinage. The bearded head of Melkart was interpreted by Robinson as a portrait of Hamilcar, father of Hannibal and founder of the dynasty in Spain.
Estimated Value $70,000 - 80,000.

[King John]

Bertolami Fine Arts

Auction 6, lot 257, 10/12/2012, Hammer 220 EUR

Sicily, Bronze,Panormos, After 241 BC, AE, (g 5,31, mm 21, h 1). Laureate head of Zeus l., Rv. Warrior standing l.; at r. Q.MAL, at l. monogr.. CNS I, n. 120; SNG ANS 588 var..
Traces of cleaning. Green patina. Good extremely fine.

[eracle62]

2 ore fa, King John dice:

MONETA IN BASSO SULLA SINISTRA:

Carthago Nova. Time of Hannibal, c. 221-208 BC. AR Double Shekel (14.7g) struck c. 220 BC. Minted at Carthago Nova, ca. 220 BC. Laureate, bearded head left of Herakles-Melqart(?), the strongly Semitic features suggesting Hamilcar Barca (father of Hannibal), with heavy, knotted club over far shoulder. Reverse : Mahout wearing long cloak and cap(?), holding goad in right hand, and riding African elephant right. CNH 13 (same dies ); Gulbenkian 389 (same dies ); Robinson, Essays-Mattingly , 6a ( same dies ). Boldly struck in high relief and well centered. A powerful portrait of the finest style of the period. Probably the finest known specimen . Superb Extremely Fine. .
Rome's success in the First Punic War (241 BC) and the subsequent uprising of the former Punic allies in North Africa (the Libyan Revolt) forced the Carthaginians to reassess their formerly dominant position in the western Mediterranean region. Hamilcar Barca, a member of a noted aristocratic family of Carthage, made his eldest son Hannibal swear a sacred oath to "never be a friend of Rome." The family then moved to Spain "to call a new world into existence to redress the balance of the old." Here Hamilcar began preparations for an attack on the Roman Republic, but he was not destined to live to see the fulfillment of his plans. His son-in-law and successor Hasdrubal (228-221 BC), the founder of Carthago Nova, continued the work, and in 218/217 BC Hannibal was ready to launch the invasion into Italy. Rome was totally unprepared for a wintertime attack from the north, and, thus, the epic story of Hannibal's crossing of the Alps with a contingent of elephants has become the stuff of legend. In the ensuing fifteen-year war, Hannibal ultimately failed to bring about the destruction of the Roman Republic, but of all Rome's opponents he came closest to overthrowing the state that was to dominate the Mediterranean region over the following six hundred years. This silver double shekel is one of the rarest and most remarkable types of the Barcid coinage. The bearded head of Melkart was interpreted by Robinson as a portrait of Hamilcar, father of Hannibal and founder of the dynasty in Spain.
Estimated Value $70,000 - 80,000.

Doppio Shekel di Annibale merita di brutto, poi con un rovescio del genere che lo rappresenta, tondello dal fascino irresistibile...

[VALTERI]

Da Aspendo, uno statere ( 465-430 , 20,5 mm. , 10,75 g. ) di attraente disegno ed ottima conservazione, con al diritto un ben dettagliato oplita incedente verso destra .

Passerà in asta CNG 109 al lotto 184 ad inizio Settembre .

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.

Mail Bid Sale 78, lot 895, 14/05/2008

ASIA MINOR, Uncertain Southern mint. Circa 380-333 BC. AR Stater (10.66 g, 3h). Athena Nikephoros standing left; coiled snake at feet to left / Apollo standing left, quiver over shoulder, holding patera and scepter; altar to left. Apparently unpublished. Near EF, toned. Well struck.
This piece is certainly associated with the similar issues at Pamphylian Side (SNG France 632-58) and Cilician Holmoi (SNG France 120). The Side issues all carry the city emblem, a pomegranate, in the obverse left field, and Atlan places the inscribed issues circa 370-333 BC. Similarly, the Holmoi issues all have a dolphin emblem in the obverse left field, though not a civic badge, and are dated by Casabonne circa 380-375 BC. While the snake on the present coin may indicate the mint of issue, this is unlikely, as no city in the region used a serpent as a civic emblem during the period in question.
Estimate: 1000 USD

[King John]

cavalli, battaglie e monete....

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG

Auction 46, lot 254, 2/04/2008

Greek Coins 
Boeotia, Thebes
Stater circa 450-440, AR 12.04 g. Beotian shield. Rev. ℵ?ΕΒΑ − ΙΟΝ ??Heracles kneeling r., stringing bow held in his r. hand; in field r., club. The whole within incuse square. Traité 224 and pl. CXCIX, 20-22 (these dies). BMC 32 (these dies). Myron pl. A, 27 (these dies). Weber 3250 (this coin). CNG sale 72, 615 (these dies).Very rare. Attractive old cabinet toned, obverse from a worn die, very fine
Ex Sotheby’s Wilkinson & Hodge 23 March 1896, Montagu, 366; Sotheby’s 9 June 1987, Virgil Brand part III, 73 and Triton X, 2007, 209 sales. 
The earliest coins of Thebes, drachms produced starting c. 525 B.C., paired a ‘Boeotian shield’ design with a utilitarian punch that became increasingly sophisticated over the course of six or seven decades. In about 460 or 450 B.C. a legitimate reverse design was introduced in the form of an amphora; thus creating the shield-and-amphora that is so familiar to numismatists. With minor interruption it would last until the final staters were produced not long before the Macedonian King Philip II put an end to Theban authority at the battle of Chaeronea in August, 338 B.C. 
Without question the period of great creativity at Thebes occurred from about 460 to 395 B.C., when a surprising array of reverse designs were paired with the shield obverse. Many of the amphorae in this period were of considerable artistic merit since the high relief, rounded body of the vessel was set against a flat field that was framed by the overlapping planchet at the edges. But the greatest attention – understandably – is drawn to more than a dozen of the reverse types that show gods or heroes, sometimes as portrait busts, other times as figures in motion. 
The dominating subjects were the god Dionysus and the hero/demi-god Heracles, who reputedly was born in Thebes. On this rare stater Heracles is shown stringing a bow; it is similar to the BCD specimen (Triton IX, lot 416) except that the inscription has been cut in a more compact manner so as to permit the inclusion of a club before the lower portion of his left leg. 
On other staters in the group Heracles is shown as a young man advancing with his club and bow at the ready, or holding his club aloft as he carries off the Delphic tripod; on others he is shown as an infant struggling with two serpents or his portrait is shown fully bearded and wearing his signature lion’s scalp. Thus, on these Theban staters we find representations of the hero in all stages of his life.
Estimate: 20000 CHF

[King John]

Leu Numismatik AG (1991-2007)

Auction 81, lot 283, 16/05/2001

Asia Minor
Ionia
The Island of Samos
Estimate: CHF 30'000.00
Tridrachm or Double Siglos (Silver, 11.29 g 12), c. 404 or c. 394. The infant Herakles, nude but for a baldric over his left shoulder, kneeling to right on ground line, strangling a serpent with each hand. Rev. Lion's mask facing; below, ; all within circular incuse. Barron 1b (this coin). BMC 129. Jameson 1528 (this coin). Kraay/Hirmer 616. WAW 89 (= Hunt I, 88). Extremely rare. A splendid example, attractively toned. Extremely fine.
From the collections of C. Gillet, 1138, R. Jameson, and the Reverend H.V. Elliott, SWH 4 February 1908, purchased in Asia Minor 1818-1819. This rare coin was struck to celebrate an alliance (syn = synmachikon = a coin of the allies) between a number of cities in western Asia Minor (Byzantion, Ephesos, Iasos, Knidos, Kyzikos, Lampsakos, Rhodes and Samos) which all used the common type of the infant Herakles and the snakes on the obverse coupled with a reverse bearing the normal city badge. It was long thought that this alliance came about in 394 after the defeat of the Spartan fleet, but S. Karweise, Lysander as Herakliskos Drakonopnigon ('Herakles the snake-strangler'), NC 1980, has made a good case for it having taken place 10 years earlier, when the cities involved threw off Athenian domination with the help of the Spartan Lysander. In many ways this seems a better choice, but hoard evidence is inconclusive (and see J. Barron, Two Goddesses in Samos, Studies Price, pp. 23-27). Nevertheless, the historical importance of this coinage is immense.

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.

Mail Bid Sale 76, lot 606, 12/09/2007

ARKADIA, Tegea. Circa 50-25 BC. Æ Hexachalkon (6.36 g, 12h). Head of Aleos right, wearing tainia; ALEOS to left / Kepheus standing right, holding shield and spear, receiving lock of Medusa’s hair from Athena, who is standing left, holding spear; between them, monograms above and below Sterope standing right, holding vessel. BCD Peloponnesos 1749; SNG Copenhagen 314. VF, green patina, a hint of roughness.
From the Christopher Morcom Collection.
The power of the gorgon Medusa was so great that her severed head became a natural apotropaic device. Although Zeus was known to have occasionally employed its protective ability, it became traditionally associated with Athena in the form of the aegis, a scaly cape fringed with snakes, upon which the head of Medusa was attached. Rarely is the head of Medusa associated with mortals, because of its ability to petrify living flesh. The legendary history of Tegea, however, provides one such occasion. According to Apollodoros (Bib. 2.7.3), Herakles wished to engage the assistance of King Kepheus of Tegea in Herakles’ war against the Lakedaimonians. In return for his help, Kepheus required some protection for the city, fearing an attack by the Argives in his absence. Herakles, then, received a jar containing a lock of Medusa’s hair from Athena (Pausanias 8.47.5, however, says Kepheus received the hair directly from Athena), which he then gave to Kepheus’ daughter, Sterope. If the enemy advanced upon Tegea, she could drive them off by holding up the lock of hair three times with her face turned away, while standing on the city walls.
Estimate: $300

[King John]

Antoninianus, Antioch mint, March–May 272. Obverse: S ZЄNOBIA AVG, diademed, draped, resting on crescent. Reverse: IVNO RЄGINA, Juno holding plate and scepter, peacock at feet. 

illustrazione: la regina di Palmira, Zenobia

[King John]

Numismatik Naumann (formerly Gitbud & Naumann)

Auction 58, lot 301, 1/10/2017

Roman Provincial Coins
IONIA. Metropolis. Gallienus (253-268). Ae. Uncertain magistrate. Obv: AVT K ΠO ΛIKI ΓΑΛΛIHNOC. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: Tetrastyle temple, containing Ares advancing left, holding spear and resting hand upon shield. SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -; Asia Minor Coins online -; apparently unpublished. The legend on the reverse of this issue is difficult to interpret given the number of ligate forms, but the ethnic in the exergue is fairly certain. There also appears to be part of the legend within the two columns of the temple on the left. Extremely rare and interesting. Condition: Very fine. Weight: 10.77 g. Diameter: 29 mm.

ILLUSTRAZIONE: STATUA DEL DIO DELLA GUERRA ARES

 

[eracle62]

12 ore fa, King John dice:

Leu Numismatik AG (1991-2007)

Auction 81, lot 283, 16/05/2001

Asia Minor
Ionia
The Island of Samos
Estimate: CHF 30'000.00
Tridrachm or Double Siglos (Silver, 11.29 g 12), c. 404 or c. 394. The infant Herakles, nude but for a baldric over his left shoulder, kneeling to right on ground line, strangling a serpent with each hand. Rev. Lion's mask facing; below, ; all within circular incuse. Barron 1b (this coin). BMC 129. Jameson 1528 (this coin). Kraay/Hirmer 616. WAW 89 (= Hunt I, 88). Extremely rare. A splendid example, attractively toned. Extremely fine.
From the collections of C. Gillet, 1138, R. Jameson, and the Reverend H.V. Elliott, SWH 4 February 1908, purchased in Asia Minor 1818-1819. This rare coin was struck to celebrate an alliance (syn = synmachikon = a coin of the allies) between a number of cities in western Asia Minor (Byzantion, Ephesos, Iasos, Knidos, Kyzikos, Lampsakos, Rhodes and Samos) which all used the common type of the infant Herakles and the snakes on the obverse coupled with a reverse bearing the normal city badge. It was long thought that this alliance came about in 394 after the defeat of the Spartan fleet, but S. Karweise, Lysander as Herakliskos Drakonopnigon ('Herakles the snake-strangler'), NC 1980, has made a good case for it having taken place 10 years earlier, when the cities involved threw off Athenian domination with the help of the Spartan Lysander. In many ways this seems a better choice, but hoard evidence is inconclusive (and see J. Barron, Two Goddesses in Samos, Studies Price, pp. 23-27). Nevertheless, the historical importance of this coinage is immense.

I miei tondelli a quanto vedo costano...

Qui Eracle è rappresentato in modo sublime, forza, vigore, movimento sembianze, e composizione del soggetto con triangolazione aurea..

Insomma magnifico a dir poco..

p.s. Sul leone non mi pronuncio avrei fatto un'altro tipo di scelta iconografica.

[dabbene]

Praticamente sta diventando una enciclopedia delle iconografie e dei messaggi monetari di questa epoca, indubbiamente se dovessi dire cosa e’ divulgare qui li manderei per leggere ...

[King John]

Numismatik Naumann (formerly Gitbud & Naumann)

Auction 30, lot 302, 5/04/2015

Pontos. Amaseia. Severus Alexander (222-235). Ae.
Obv: ΑΥΤ Κ ΣΕΟΥΗΡΟΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ. 
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: ΑΔΡ ΣΕΥ ΑΛΕ ΑΜΑΣΙΑΣ ΜΗ ΝΕ ΠΡ / ΠΟΝ ΕΤ ΣΚ/Η???. 
View of the city of Amaseia on the mountainside with temple and altar of Zeus Stratios.
Price-Trell Coins And Their Cities 159 (Var.).
Condition: Good very fine.
Weight: 24.73 g.
Diameter: 35 mm.

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.

Triton XX, lot 474, 10/01/2017

EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (32mm, 27.10 g, 12h). Dated RY 17 (AD 132/3). AVT KAIC TPAIAN A∆PIANOC CЄB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Hadrian, holding branch and scepter, driving quadriga of elephants right; L IZ (date) above. Köln 1080; Dattari (Savio) 1607; K&G 32.543; Emmett 961.17. VF, dark green and brown patina with earthen highlights/deposits, minor roughness.
From the Dr. Patrick H. C. Tan Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 336 (8 October 2014), lot 221. 

 ILLUSTAZIONE: Venere su un carro trainato da elefanti, affresco (Pompei)

[King John]

Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger

Auction 271, lot 2105, 17/02/2011

EUKRATIDES. Pushkalavati. Tetradrachme. Behelmte, drapierte und gepanzerte Büste r. Rs: Dioskuren reiten r. MIG 177dd. 16,91g. Min. korrodiert u. winz. Kratzer. Hohes Relief. vz-ss

ILLUSTRAZIONE: EUCRATIDE RE DI BATTRIA CHE COMPRENDEVA ANCHE L'ATTUALE AFGHANISTAN

Modificato 25 Agosto, 2018 da King John

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.

Electronic Auction 301, lot 170, 24/04/2013

TROAS, Ilium. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ (26mm, 13.16 g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / ΕKTΩP ΙΛIΕΩN around, Hector standing right, holding shield, about to hurl a torch at one of two Greek ships with rowers. Bellinger T239; BMC 91. Good Fine, green patina, some roughness. Very rare and interesting mythological type. Tell me now, Muses, you who live on Olympus, how the Achaean ships were first set on fire. Hector charged at Ajax and struck with his long sword at the ash pole near the socket at the top, shearing the head away, and leaving Telamonian Ajax brandishing a useless pike, its bronze blade clanging to the ground far away. Ajax shuddered deep in his mighty heart at the gods’ actions, and knew that Zeus the Thunderer, on high, intent on Trojan victory, was bringing all their battle plans to naught. So he fell back out of range, then the Trojans threw blazing brands into the swift ship, and a stream of living flame instantly engulfed it. Iliad XVI:112-114

ILLUSTRAZIONE: ETTORE

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.

Auction 90, lo 1011, 23/05/2012

LYDIA, Thyateira. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ Medallion (43mm, 42.92 g, 6h). Asiaticus Hermogenes, strategus. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Hephaestus seated left on wreathed cippus, putting finishing touches with hammer on a Corinthian helmet set on low column, while Athena, standing left and holding spear and shield, touches top of column. SNG München -; SNG von Aulock -; BMC -; Waddington 7067; CNG 69, 1010 (same dies). VF, attractive dark brown patina. Extremely rare.
From Group CEM.
As related by Homer ( Iliad 18), Achilles’ armor was lost when, still sulking in his tent, he allowed his companion Patroclus to wear it while he spurred the Greeks into a battle on the plains below Troy. Overconfident, Patroclus met Hector in single combat. Mistaking Patroclus for Achilles, the Trojan hero Hector brutally killed him and dragged off Patroclus’ still-armored corpse as a war prize. Achilles’ mother, the sea nymph Thetis, persuaded the god Hephaestus to construct a new set of armor, among which a highly decorated shield was included.

ILLUSTRAZIONE: ATENA CHIEDE AD EFESTO DI FORGIARE LE ARMI DI ACHILLE, DA UN VASO DEL IV SECOLO A.C.

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.

Electronic Auction 282, lot 318, 11/07/2012

Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.32 g, 6h). Legionary issue. Rome mint. Struck AD 193. Laureate head right / LEG XXX VLP, legionary eagle on low perch left between two standards. RIC IV 17; RSC 278. Good VF, surfaces a bit bright. 

ILLUSTRAZIONE: LA VITA DEI LEGIONARI NEL CASTRUM

[eracle62]

12 ore fa, King John dice:

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.

Auction 90, lo 1011, 23/05/2012

LYDIA, Thyateira. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ Medallion (43mm, 42.92 g, 6h). Asiaticus Hermogenes, strategus. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Hephaestus seated left on wreathed cippus, putting finishing touches with hammer on a Corinthian helmet set on low column, while Athena, standing left and holding spear and shield, touches top of column. SNG München -; SNG von Aulock -; BMC -; Waddington 7067; CNG 69, 1010 (same dies). VF, attractive dark brown patina. Extremely rare.
From Group CEM.
As related by Homer ( Iliad 18), Achilles’ armor was lost when, still sulking in his tent, he allowed his companion Patroclus to wear it while he spurred the Greeks into a battle on the plains below Troy. Overconfident, Patroclus met Hector in single combat. Mistaking Patroclus for Achilles, the Trojan hero Hector brutally killed him and dragged off Patroclus’ still-armored corpse as a war prize. Achilles’ mother, the sea nymph Thetis, persuaded the god Hephaestus to construct a new set of armor, among which a highly decorated shield was included.

ILLUSTRAZIONE: ATENA CHIEDE AD EFESTO DI FORGIARE LE ARMI DI ACHILLE, DA UN VASO DEL IV SECOLO A.C.

Altro tondello parlante..

Un medaglione poi, sempre imbattibili..