DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45277#0773
MESOPOTAMIA.
689
wards towards tlie Euphrates. It was built probably by Seleucus, and
named after the ancient Macedonian town Edessa or Aegae.
In the time of Antiochus IV it appears to have temporarily assumed
the name of Antiochia ad Callirrhoen, and coins with his portrait struck
there read ANTI OXERN TUN EFTI KAAAIPOHI. After the break up of
the Seleucid Empire Edessa was ruled by its own princes, who bore the
names of Vai, Mannus, and Abgarus. The earliest of these coins, those
attributed by Lenormant ^Alphabet Plienicien, ii. 6) to Mannus VII and
VIII, contemporaries of Trajan and Hadrian, and to King Vai, A. D. 138-
139, bear inscriptions in the Estranghelo character. From the time of
Hadrian downwards the head of the Roman emperor appears on.one side
of the coin, and that of the reigning Abgarus or Mannus, wearing a lofty
tiara, on the other, with the legend ABPAPOC or M A N N 0 C B A CIA E Y C,
and with the addition sometimes of <t>l AOPOM AIOC.
Under Aurelius and his family denarii were issued probably at Edessa,
but without the name of the city. These read YTTEP NlKHC PRMAIRN,
YTIEP NlKHC TUN CEBAC[TRN], YTIEP NlKHC TON KYPinN, etc.
There are also Imperial colonial from Caracalla to Trajan Decius. Inscr.,
EAECCA; KOA. EAECCA; KOA. MHT. MQCCOTT] EAECCA; MHT. KOA.
EAECCHNoN, etc., often with addition of honorary titles, such as MAP.
AYP. ANT. for Marcia Aurelia Antoniniana; A. 0. M. for Aurelia Opel-
liana Macriniana ; MAK. AYP. for Marciniana Aurelia, etc. The usual
types are the Tyche of the City seated with a River-god swimming at
her feet; and the Bust of Tyche, before which is the figure of a divinity
pn a column.
Nicephorium, on the Euphrates, about sixty miles south of Carrhae.
Imperia I of Gordian and Gallienus. Inscr., NlKH<tOPIflN. Types—Zeus
Nikephoros enthroned; Concordia.
Nisibis, the chief town of the district called Mygdonia. Under Anti-
ochus IV it received the name of Antioch, and struck coins with his
portrait, reading ANTIOXEnN TUN EN MYPAONlAI (B. M. Cat.,
Seleuc., p. 42). Imperial—Elagabalus to Trajan Decius. Inscr., KOA.
NCCIBI., CCn. KOAD. NECIBI MHT., I0Y CETI. KOAO. NECIBI, etc.
The titles Septimia and Julia are respectively in honour of Sept. Severus,
probably the founder of the colony, and of Philip senior. The title
Metropolis seems to have been conferred upon the colony by Severus
Alexander. Types—Head of Tyche surmounted by constellation Aries,
or Tyche seated surmounted by Aries, with River-god swimming at her
feet. On the coins of Philip this statue is rudely represented facing in
a temple.
Rhesaena, a considerable town between Edessa and Nisibis. Imperial—
Caracalla to Etruscus. Inscr., PHCAlNHClUUN or CETI. KOA. PHCAINH-
CIujN. Types— Constellation Sagittarius ; Eagle sometimes in Temple,
or as an adjunct combined with various types; Colonist ploughing ;
Figure sacrificing, etc. In the exergue is frequently a River-god
swimming.
Seleucia ad Tigrim, founded by Seleucus I at the point where the
royal canal connected the Euphrates with the Tigris. Subsequently the
town rose to great commercial importance, even rivalling Alexandria
Y y
689
wards towards tlie Euphrates. It was built probably by Seleucus, and
named after the ancient Macedonian town Edessa or Aegae.
In the time of Antiochus IV it appears to have temporarily assumed
the name of Antiochia ad Callirrhoen, and coins with his portrait struck
there read ANTI OXERN TUN EFTI KAAAIPOHI. After the break up of
the Seleucid Empire Edessa was ruled by its own princes, who bore the
names of Vai, Mannus, and Abgarus. The earliest of these coins, those
attributed by Lenormant ^Alphabet Plienicien, ii. 6) to Mannus VII and
VIII, contemporaries of Trajan and Hadrian, and to King Vai, A. D. 138-
139, bear inscriptions in the Estranghelo character. From the time of
Hadrian downwards the head of the Roman emperor appears on.one side
of the coin, and that of the reigning Abgarus or Mannus, wearing a lofty
tiara, on the other, with the legend ABPAPOC or M A N N 0 C B A CIA E Y C,
and with the addition sometimes of <t>l AOPOM AIOC.
Under Aurelius and his family denarii were issued probably at Edessa,
but without the name of the city. These read YTTEP NlKHC PRMAIRN,
YTIEP NlKHC TUN CEBAC[TRN], YTIEP NlKHC TON KYPinN, etc.
There are also Imperial colonial from Caracalla to Trajan Decius. Inscr.,
EAECCA; KOA. EAECCA; KOA. MHT. MQCCOTT] EAECCA; MHT. KOA.
EAECCHNoN, etc., often with addition of honorary titles, such as MAP.
AYP. ANT. for Marcia Aurelia Antoniniana; A. 0. M. for Aurelia Opel-
liana Macriniana ; MAK. AYP. for Marciniana Aurelia, etc. The usual
types are the Tyche of the City seated with a River-god swimming at
her feet; and the Bust of Tyche, before which is the figure of a divinity
pn a column.
Nicephorium, on the Euphrates, about sixty miles south of Carrhae.
Imperia I of Gordian and Gallienus. Inscr., NlKH<tOPIflN. Types—Zeus
Nikephoros enthroned; Concordia.
Nisibis, the chief town of the district called Mygdonia. Under Anti-
ochus IV it received the name of Antioch, and struck coins with his
portrait, reading ANTIOXEnN TUN EN MYPAONlAI (B. M. Cat.,
Seleuc., p. 42). Imperial—Elagabalus to Trajan Decius. Inscr., KOA.
NCCIBI., CCn. KOAD. NECIBI MHT., I0Y CETI. KOAO. NECIBI, etc.
The titles Septimia and Julia are respectively in honour of Sept. Severus,
probably the founder of the colony, and of Philip senior. The title
Metropolis seems to have been conferred upon the colony by Severus
Alexander. Types—Head of Tyche surmounted by constellation Aries,
or Tyche seated surmounted by Aries, with River-god swimming at her
feet. On the coins of Philip this statue is rudely represented facing in
a temple.
Rhesaena, a considerable town between Edessa and Nisibis. Imperial—
Caracalla to Etruscus. Inscr., PHCAlNHClUUN or CETI. KOA. PHCAINH-
CIujN. Types— Constellation Sagittarius ; Eagle sometimes in Temple,
or as an adjunct combined with various types; Colonist ploughing ;
Figure sacrificing, etc. In the exergue is frequently a River-god
swimming.
Seleucia ad Tigrim, founded by Seleucus I at the point where the
royal canal connected the Euphrates with the Tigris. Subsequently the
town rose to great commercial importance, even rivalling Alexandria
Y y