DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14697#0354
Zeus Phtlios 1189
tended to represent Antiochos himself1; for it seems to have been part of that
ruler's policy always to foster the cult, and on occasion to assume the role, of
Zeus2. Thus he struck handsome silver pieces showing on the obverse side an
Fig. 991.
idealised portrait-head of himself, sometimes with twin stars at the ends of his
diadem3, and on the reverse Zeus enthroned with a Nike in his hand. The Nike
extends a wreath towards the god. And the accom-
panying legend reads ' Of King Antiochos, the God
Made Manifest' (fig. 991)4, or 'Of King Antiochos, the
God Made Manifest, Bearer of Victory' (fig. 992)5.
Another imposing type has on the obverse the head of
the monarch, wreathed with wild-olive and bearded as
if he were indeed Zeus Olympios, on the reverse Zeus
enthroned with Nike in the act of crowning him (fig. 993)°
or his pompous inscription (fig. 994)". It is very pos-
sible that this coin commemorates the erection of the pjg_
Olympian Zeus at Daphne. Be that as it may, the
statue was probably made of gold and ivory, like its original at Olympia.
Daphnaei Apollinis fanum, quod Epiphanes Antiochus rex ille condidit iracundus et saevus,
et simulacrum in eo Olympiad Iovis imitamenti aequiparans magnitudinem, subita vi
flammarum exustum est. But Liban. or. 11. 94 ff. (i. 2. 467, 1 ft. Foerster) and Sozom.
hist. eccl. 5. 19 agree that the sanctuary of Apollon Acupvaios was the work of Seleukos i
Nikator. Presumably Antiochos Epiphanes added to its attractions. Overbeck Gr.
Kunstmyth. Zeus p. 58 by an odd blunder takes Ammianus to mean that Antiochos
dedicated at Daphne a statue of Apollon in the guise of Olympian Zeus !
1 We may fairly suspect that the same intention prompted Antiochos' sacrilegious treat-
ment of the temples at Jerusalem and on Mt Gerizim [supra i. 233, ii. 887 n. o no. (31)).
2 See E. R. Bevan 'A note on Antiochos Epiphanes' in the Jourri. Hell. Stud. 1900
xx. 26—30, id. The House of Seleucus London 1902 ii. 154 ff., G. F. Hill Historical Greek
Coins London 1906 p. 144.
3 Tetradrachms with rev. BAHAEHS ANTIOXOY or AN TIOXOY Apollon
seated on the omphaUs have obv. head of Antiochos with diadem surmounted by a star
[Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Seleucid Kings of Syria p. 34 pi. 11, 1) or with diadem ending in
two eight-rayed stars {Hunter Cat. Coins iii. 41 pi. 66, 9). They bear witness to the
early deification of the king.
4 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Seleucid Kings of Syria p. 35 pi. 11, 8, Hunter Cat. Coins iii.
44 pi. 66, 13, Head Hist, num.*2, p. 762. I figure a specimen from my collection.
5 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Seleucid Kings of Syria p. 35 pi. n, 7=myfig. 992, Hunter
Cat. Corns iii. 47 f. pi. 66, 17 (cp. 18), Head Hist, num.- p. 762, Bunbury Sale Catalogue
1896 ii. 65 no. 494.
6 E. Babelon Les rois de Syrie Paris 1890 pp. xcivf., 71 pi. 12, 11 ( = my fig. 993).
7 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Seleucid Kings of Syria p. 36 pi. ir, 9 = my fig. 994, Hunter
tended to represent Antiochos himself1; for it seems to have been part of that
ruler's policy always to foster the cult, and on occasion to assume the role, of
Zeus2. Thus he struck handsome silver pieces showing on the obverse side an
Fig. 991.
idealised portrait-head of himself, sometimes with twin stars at the ends of his
diadem3, and on the reverse Zeus enthroned with a Nike in his hand. The Nike
extends a wreath towards the god. And the accom-
panying legend reads ' Of King Antiochos, the God
Made Manifest' (fig. 991)4, or 'Of King Antiochos, the
God Made Manifest, Bearer of Victory' (fig. 992)5.
Another imposing type has on the obverse the head of
the monarch, wreathed with wild-olive and bearded as
if he were indeed Zeus Olympios, on the reverse Zeus
enthroned with Nike in the act of crowning him (fig. 993)°
or his pompous inscription (fig. 994)". It is very pos-
sible that this coin commemorates the erection of the pjg_
Olympian Zeus at Daphne. Be that as it may, the
statue was probably made of gold and ivory, like its original at Olympia.
Daphnaei Apollinis fanum, quod Epiphanes Antiochus rex ille condidit iracundus et saevus,
et simulacrum in eo Olympiad Iovis imitamenti aequiparans magnitudinem, subita vi
flammarum exustum est. But Liban. or. 11. 94 ff. (i. 2. 467, 1 ft. Foerster) and Sozom.
hist. eccl. 5. 19 agree that the sanctuary of Apollon Acupvaios was the work of Seleukos i
Nikator. Presumably Antiochos Epiphanes added to its attractions. Overbeck Gr.
Kunstmyth. Zeus p. 58 by an odd blunder takes Ammianus to mean that Antiochos
dedicated at Daphne a statue of Apollon in the guise of Olympian Zeus !
1 We may fairly suspect that the same intention prompted Antiochos' sacrilegious treat-
ment of the temples at Jerusalem and on Mt Gerizim [supra i. 233, ii. 887 n. o no. (31)).
2 See E. R. Bevan 'A note on Antiochos Epiphanes' in the Jourri. Hell. Stud. 1900
xx. 26—30, id. The House of Seleucus London 1902 ii. 154 ff., G. F. Hill Historical Greek
Coins London 1906 p. 144.
3 Tetradrachms with rev. BAHAEHS ANTIOXOY or AN TIOXOY Apollon
seated on the omphaUs have obv. head of Antiochos with diadem surmounted by a star
[Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Seleucid Kings of Syria p. 34 pi. 11, 1) or with diadem ending in
two eight-rayed stars {Hunter Cat. Coins iii. 41 pi. 66, 9). They bear witness to the
early deification of the king.
4 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Seleucid Kings of Syria p. 35 pi. 11, 8, Hunter Cat. Coins iii.
44 pi. 66, 13, Head Hist, num.*2, p. 762. I figure a specimen from my collection.
5 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Seleucid Kings of Syria p. 35 pi. n, 7=myfig. 992, Hunter
Cat. Corns iii. 47 f. pi. 66, 17 (cp. 18), Head Hist, num.- p. 762, Bunbury Sale Catalogue
1896 ii. 65 no. 494.
6 E. Babelon Les rois de Syrie Paris 1890 pp. xcivf., 71 pi. 12, 11 ( = my fig. 993).
7 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Seleucid Kings of Syria p. 36 pi. ir, 9 = my fig. 994, Hunter