DOI issue:
I. Artykuly
DOI article:Cieciela̢g, Jerzy: Some remarks on the coinage of herod Philip
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21229#0068
TOM II
NOTAE NUMISMATHAE
ZAPISKI MMIZMATYCZH
KRAKÓW 1997
JERZY CIECIELĄG
Pedagogical University
Cracow
SOME REMARKS ON THE COINAGE
OF HEROD PHILIP
In 1987, archaeological excavations were begun in Bethsaida, one of
the principal cities of Herod Philip’s tetrarchy. Up to now, about 76 coins
have been found, including two issued by that ruler. At first, they were
mistakenly attributed to the founder of the Idumaean dynasty.1 Eventual-
ly, they turned out to represent the most common coin type issued by
Philip.
On the obverse of this type there is a image of the emperor (Augustus
or Tiberius), while the reverse shows the facade of a temple. The place-
ment of a human image on coin in autonomous Jewish coinage was an
unprecedented event. We need to remember that Jewish law prohibited
making images of any living creatures, either human or animal.2 Any trans-
1 F. Strickert, The Coins of Philip, in: R. Arav and R. A. Freund, eds, Bethsaida. A City
by the North Shore of the Sea of Galilee, vol. 1, Kirksville, Missouri, 1995, p. 165
2 Exod. 20, 4; Y. Meshorer, Ancient Jewish Coinage, vols I—II, Dix Hills, New York, 1982,
II, p. 42
66
NOTAE NUMISMATHAE
ZAPISKI MMIZMATYCZH
KRAKÓW 1997
JERZY CIECIELĄG
Pedagogical University
Cracow
SOME REMARKS ON THE COINAGE
OF HEROD PHILIP
In 1987, archaeological excavations were begun in Bethsaida, one of
the principal cities of Herod Philip’s tetrarchy. Up to now, about 76 coins
have been found, including two issued by that ruler. At first, they were
mistakenly attributed to the founder of the Idumaean dynasty.1 Eventual-
ly, they turned out to represent the most common coin type issued by
Philip.
On the obverse of this type there is a image of the emperor (Augustus
or Tiberius), while the reverse shows the facade of a temple. The place-
ment of a human image on coin in autonomous Jewish coinage was an
unprecedented event. We need to remember that Jewish law prohibited
making images of any living creatures, either human or animal.2 Any trans-
1 F. Strickert, The Coins of Philip, in: R. Arav and R. A. Freund, eds, Bethsaida. A City
by the North Shore of the Sea of Galilee, vol. 1, Kirksville, Missouri, 1995, p. 165
2 Exod. 20, 4; Y. Meshorer, Ancient Jewish Coinage, vols I—II, Dix Hills, New York, 1982,
II, p. 42
66