DOI Heft:
I. Artykuly
DOI Artikel:Cieciela̢g, Jerzy: Some remarks on the coinage of herod Philip
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21229#0069
gression of the law met with sharp reactions from the Jews, one example
of which is the unfortunate actions of the prefect of Judea, Pontius
Pilate.3 None of the earlier Jewish rulers had dared to put any image on
coin. Even Roman governors refrained from committing that offense. Why
then did Philip violate a time-honored Jewish tradition? He could do that
with impunity because the lands under his rule were inhabited by a relati-
vely small Jewish population.4 Non-Jewish inhabitants obviously had little
respect for the Law. Another factor was the influence of tetrarch Zenodo-
ros (30-20 BC), who issued in 27 BC a coin with his own portrait on the
obverse and Octavian Augustus’ on the reverse.5 Philip’s oldest coins bear
images of himself and Augustus. Later issues carry just a portrait of
the emperor on the obverse and the facade of a temple on the reverse.
Ya’akov Meshorer interprets that fact as evidence of Philip’s positive atti-
tude toward the emperor and acceptance of his position of a tetrarch. In
this he contrasted his brothers Archelaos and Antipas, who were disappoin-
ted by Augustus’ decision to divide their father’s kingdom.6 In any case, it
is astonishing that despite an open breach of the Law, he was the most
popular of the sons of Herod the Great.
No less intriguing than the human images is the temple on Philip’s
coins. Even though no coin makes it clear, most scholars seem to be certain
that it is a temple of Augustus at Paneas.7 According to Llavius Josephus, it
was built by Herod the Great when Augustus visited those parts and inclu-
ded them in the kingdom of Herod. In a gesture of gratitude, the latter
built a temple to honor the emperor.8 Lor his part, Philip renamed Pane-
3 Flavius Josephus, Antiquitates Judaicae, XVIII, III, 55-62; Bellum Judaicum, II, IX, 169—
-177. It has become customary in historical writing to call all governors of Judea procura-
tors. It is not historically correct. In 6-41 AD these officials probably bore the title of
prefect of Judea and the title of procurator was not introduced until emperor Claudius
did it in 44 AD. In fairness it must be noted that not all scholars agree with the above
claim for lack of direct evidence. Only for Pontius Pilate does there exist proof in the
form of an inscription uncovered in Caesarea Maritima which titles him prefect of Judea.
4 Flavius Josephus, Ant. XVII, VIII, 188. Josephus says that a mixed Jewish and Syrian
population lived there (Bell. Jud., Ill, III, 58). He also mentions that Herod the Great
settled Babylonian Jews there (Ant., XVII, II, 23-25).
’ A. Kindler, A Coin of Herod Philip - The Earliest Portrait of a Herodian Ruler, Israel
Exploration Journal, 21, 1971, p. 162.
6 Y. Meshorer, op. cit., II, p. 45
' F. Strickert, op. cit., p. 167
8 Flavius Josephus, Ant,, XV, X, 363; Bell. Jud,, I, XXI, 404
67
of which is the unfortunate actions of the prefect of Judea, Pontius
Pilate.3 None of the earlier Jewish rulers had dared to put any image on
coin. Even Roman governors refrained from committing that offense. Why
then did Philip violate a time-honored Jewish tradition? He could do that
with impunity because the lands under his rule were inhabited by a relati-
vely small Jewish population.4 Non-Jewish inhabitants obviously had little
respect for the Law. Another factor was the influence of tetrarch Zenodo-
ros (30-20 BC), who issued in 27 BC a coin with his own portrait on the
obverse and Octavian Augustus’ on the reverse.5 Philip’s oldest coins bear
images of himself and Augustus. Later issues carry just a portrait of
the emperor on the obverse and the facade of a temple on the reverse.
Ya’akov Meshorer interprets that fact as evidence of Philip’s positive atti-
tude toward the emperor and acceptance of his position of a tetrarch. In
this he contrasted his brothers Archelaos and Antipas, who were disappoin-
ted by Augustus’ decision to divide their father’s kingdom.6 In any case, it
is astonishing that despite an open breach of the Law, he was the most
popular of the sons of Herod the Great.
No less intriguing than the human images is the temple on Philip’s
coins. Even though no coin makes it clear, most scholars seem to be certain
that it is a temple of Augustus at Paneas.7 According to Llavius Josephus, it
was built by Herod the Great when Augustus visited those parts and inclu-
ded them in the kingdom of Herod. In a gesture of gratitude, the latter
built a temple to honor the emperor.8 Lor his part, Philip renamed Pane-
3 Flavius Josephus, Antiquitates Judaicae, XVIII, III, 55-62; Bellum Judaicum, II, IX, 169—
-177. It has become customary in historical writing to call all governors of Judea procura-
tors. It is not historically correct. In 6-41 AD these officials probably bore the title of
prefect of Judea and the title of procurator was not introduced until emperor Claudius
did it in 44 AD. In fairness it must be noted that not all scholars agree with the above
claim for lack of direct evidence. Only for Pontius Pilate does there exist proof in the
form of an inscription uncovered in Caesarea Maritima which titles him prefect of Judea.
4 Flavius Josephus, Ant. XVII, VIII, 188. Josephus says that a mixed Jewish and Syrian
population lived there (Bell. Jud., Ill, III, 58). He also mentions that Herod the Great
settled Babylonian Jews there (Ant., XVII, II, 23-25).
’ A. Kindler, A Coin of Herod Philip - The Earliest Portrait of a Herodian Ruler, Israel
Exploration Journal, 21, 1971, p. 162.
6 Y. Meshorer, op. cit., II, p. 45
' F. Strickert, op. cit., p. 167
8 Flavius Josephus, Ant,, XV, X, 363; Bell. Jud,, I, XXI, 404
67