DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14696#0891
8io Zeus Keraimobolos, Keraunios;
With these coins of Seleukeia must be compared bronze pieces
of Diokaisareia in Kilikia, struck by Iulia Domna (figs. 773, 774)1
and M. Iulius Philippus the younger2. Their reverse type shows a
high-backed throne : its foreposts are surmounted by two lions, and
on its box-like seat is a winged thunderbolt erect in a ^wj/-human
attitude. The lions suggest that Zeus had here taken over the throne
of the Anatolian mother-goddess3 or her consort4. And the thunder-
bolt was appropriate, not only to Zeus, but also to the reigning
representative of the gens Iulia5.
H. Usener has collected analogous designs from the coinage
and sculpture of the west6. A silver coin of Vespasian issued in the
year 77 or 78 A.D. represents a winged thunderbolt lying on a draped
stool7. This has been regarded8 as an allusion to Vespasian's re-
building of the temple of Iupiter Capitolinusl\ which contained a
golden thunderbolt of fifty pounds' weight presented on the advice
of the decemviri in 217 B.C.10 But the type probably hints that
Vespasian himself was Iupiter's vicegerent11. Titus in 80 A.D. issued
gold12 and sjlver coins with the same design (fig. 775)13. Trajan, a
Galatia, etc. p. 276 no. 56 Caracalla pi. 33, 6 ( = my fig. 772) gives a different description
of the type ('Large thunderbolt of Zeus Keraunios resting on roof of shrine [within which,
sacred stone of Zeus Kasios?]') and is followed by Head Hist, num.? p. 783, Anson
Num. Gr.iv. 57 no. 587 pi. n: C6A6VK ... [Z€V]C K6PAVN IOC
1 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Lycaonia, etc. pp. lvi, 73 pi. 13, 1 (= my fig. 773), Brtider
Egger Auktious-Katalog xlvi Griechische Munzen (Sammlung des Herrn Theodor Prowe,
Moskau, u.a.) Wien 1914 p. 103 no. 2220 (misread ...OABGflN) ph 36 ( = my fig. 774).
AAPAIOKA I CAPenN='AM'a^1'] Aioicauraptwv.
" Mionnet Desc?: cie mild. ant. iii. 577 f. no. 197.
3 Supra i. 553, ii. 406 ff. n. o, 552 n. 1. 4 Supra p. 550 ft".
5 Class. Rev. 1904 xviii. 363, 371, Folk-Lore 1905 xvi. 286 f., 308 ft.
G H. Usener in the Rhein. Mus. 1905 lx. 6 (=id. Kleine Schriften Leipzig—Berlin
1913 iv. 475 f.).
7 Morell. Thes. Num. Imp. Rom. ii. 299 pi. 10, 40, Stevenson—Smith—Madden
Diet. Rom. Coins p. 400 fig. Not recognised by Cohen, and therefore suspect.
8 Morell. loc. cit. 9 Supra i. 44^
111 Liv. 22. 1. 11 Folk-Lore 1905 xvi. 313.
12 Morell. op. cit. ii. 353 pi. 6, 54, Cohen Monn. emp. rom.'2 i. 455 no. 315.
13 Morell. op. cit. ii. 366 pi. 8, 70, Cohen op. cit.2 i. 455 nos. 314, 316. Fig. 775 is
from a specimen in my collection.
With these coins of Seleukeia must be compared bronze pieces
of Diokaisareia in Kilikia, struck by Iulia Domna (figs. 773, 774)1
and M. Iulius Philippus the younger2. Their reverse type shows a
high-backed throne : its foreposts are surmounted by two lions, and
on its box-like seat is a winged thunderbolt erect in a ^wj/-human
attitude. The lions suggest that Zeus had here taken over the throne
of the Anatolian mother-goddess3 or her consort4. And the thunder-
bolt was appropriate, not only to Zeus, but also to the reigning
representative of the gens Iulia5.
H. Usener has collected analogous designs from the coinage
and sculpture of the west6. A silver coin of Vespasian issued in the
year 77 or 78 A.D. represents a winged thunderbolt lying on a draped
stool7. This has been regarded8 as an allusion to Vespasian's re-
building of the temple of Iupiter Capitolinusl\ which contained a
golden thunderbolt of fifty pounds' weight presented on the advice
of the decemviri in 217 B.C.10 But the type probably hints that
Vespasian himself was Iupiter's vicegerent11. Titus in 80 A.D. issued
gold12 and sjlver coins with the same design (fig. 775)13. Trajan, a
Galatia, etc. p. 276 no. 56 Caracalla pi. 33, 6 ( = my fig. 772) gives a different description
of the type ('Large thunderbolt of Zeus Keraunios resting on roof of shrine [within which,
sacred stone of Zeus Kasios?]') and is followed by Head Hist, num.? p. 783, Anson
Num. Gr.iv. 57 no. 587 pi. n: C6A6VK ... [Z€V]C K6PAVN IOC
1 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Lycaonia, etc. pp. lvi, 73 pi. 13, 1 (= my fig. 773), Brtider
Egger Auktious-Katalog xlvi Griechische Munzen (Sammlung des Herrn Theodor Prowe,
Moskau, u.a.) Wien 1914 p. 103 no. 2220 (misread ...OABGflN) ph 36 ( = my fig. 774).
AAPAIOKA I CAPenN='AM'a^1'] Aioicauraptwv.
" Mionnet Desc?: cie mild. ant. iii. 577 f. no. 197.
3 Supra i. 553, ii. 406 ff. n. o, 552 n. 1. 4 Supra p. 550 ft".
5 Class. Rev. 1904 xviii. 363, 371, Folk-Lore 1905 xvi. 286 f., 308 ft.
G H. Usener in the Rhein. Mus. 1905 lx. 6 (=id. Kleine Schriften Leipzig—Berlin
1913 iv. 475 f.).
7 Morell. Thes. Num. Imp. Rom. ii. 299 pi. 10, 40, Stevenson—Smith—Madden
Diet. Rom. Coins p. 400 fig. Not recognised by Cohen, and therefore suspect.
8 Morell. loc. cit. 9 Supra i. 44^
111 Liv. 22. 1. 11 Folk-Lore 1905 xvi. 313.
12 Morell. op. cit. ii. 353 pi. 6, 54, Cohen Monn. emp. rom.'2 i. 455 no. 315.
13 Morell. op. cit. ii. 366 pi. 8, 70, Cohen op. cit.2 i. 455 nos. 314, 316. Fig. 775 is
from a specimen in my collection.