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#0070
as Caesarea Philippi, following the style of Caesarea Maritima, where He-
rod the Greal had built a temple in honor of Augustus. Of course Philip’s
coins do not give us a full picture of the edifice as they consistently
portray its facade with four Ionian columns supporting a pediment. On
some specimens, the temple is shown placed on a pedestal with step
s leading up it.9
Although human images and depiction of a pagan temple are astoni-
shing in themselves, the picture of Philip’s coinage is not full until we
note the absence of anyjewish symbols on his coins except a lily flower on
the temple pediment in the first issue of such coins. It cannot be ruled
out that a lily was a decoration motif in the temple of Paneas/Caesarea
Philippi. Yet we need to remember that on Jewish coins a lily often repre-
sents the temple of Jerusalem. Meshorer quotes many accounts of use of
this flower in decoration during the first and second Jewish wars.10
Interestingly, in later issues the lilv on the pediment was replaced by a
simple dot. Some scholars suggest that Philip’s first coin issue was a test to
determine how the population would view his significant changes in sym-
bolism. The replacement of the lily by a dot would suggest a disapproving
reception of the first issue. On the other hand, Philip could claim that the
temple with a lily signifies the Jerusalem temple, not the pagan shrine of
Augustus at Paneas.11
o
In my view, the above facts indicate that the interpretation of the temple
on Philip’s coins - despite the widespread belief that it is the Paneas
temple - remains an open question.
With one exception, all Philip’s coins are dated. Following a letter „L”
which stands for year, there are one or two Greek letters. The dates, of
course, refer to the year of tetrarch’s rule which began in 4 BC. On most
coins, the date is placed between the temple columns; on some it is next
to the emperor’s portrait.12 The dates are usually legible, even though
almost all existing Philip’s coins are in poor condition. He issued his
9 F. Stricken, op. cit., p. 167
1,1 Y. Meshorer, op. cit., I, pp. 29-30. In the first temple of Solomon, lilies decorated
the pillars ofjachin and Boaz (I Kings 7, 22). The brim of the temple "sea" was compared
to a flower of a lily (I Kings 7, 26). In the times of the Second Temple, Ptolemy Philadel-
phos donated to the Jerusalem temple a table decorated with lilies (see Letter of Aristeas).
11 F. Stricken, op. cit., p. 168
12 Ibid., p. 168
68
rod the Greal had built a temple in honor of Augustus. Of course Philip’s
coins do not give us a full picture of the edifice as they consistently
portray its facade with four Ionian columns supporting a pediment. On
some specimens, the temple is shown placed on a pedestal with step
s leading up it.9
Although human images and depiction of a pagan temple are astoni-
shing in themselves, the picture of Philip’s coinage is not full until we
note the absence of anyjewish symbols on his coins except a lily flower on
the temple pediment in the first issue of such coins. It cannot be ruled
out that a lily was a decoration motif in the temple of Paneas/Caesarea
Philippi. Yet we need to remember that on Jewish coins a lily often repre-
sents the temple of Jerusalem. Meshorer quotes many accounts of use of
this flower in decoration during the first and second Jewish wars.10
Interestingly, in later issues the lilv on the pediment was replaced by a
simple dot. Some scholars suggest that Philip’s first coin issue was a test to
determine how the population would view his significant changes in sym-
bolism. The replacement of the lily by a dot would suggest a disapproving
reception of the first issue. On the other hand, Philip could claim that the
temple with a lily signifies the Jerusalem temple, not the pagan shrine of
Augustus at Paneas.11
o
In my view, the above facts indicate that the interpretation of the temple
on Philip’s coins - despite the widespread belief that it is the Paneas
temple - remains an open question.
With one exception, all Philip’s coins are dated. Following a letter „L”
which stands for year, there are one or two Greek letters. The dates, of
course, refer to the year of tetrarch’s rule which began in 4 BC. On most
coins, the date is placed between the temple columns; on some it is next
to the emperor’s portrait.12 The dates are usually legible, even though
almost all existing Philip’s coins are in poor condition. He issued his
9 F. Stricken, op. cit., p. 167
1,1 Y. Meshorer, op. cit., I, pp. 29-30. In the first temple of Solomon, lilies decorated
the pillars ofjachin and Boaz (I Kings 7, 22). The brim of the temple "sea" was compared
to a flower of a lily (I Kings 7, 26). In the times of the Second Temple, Ptolemy Philadel-
phos donated to the Jerusalem temple a table decorated with lilies (see Letter of Aristeas).
11 F. Stricken, op. cit., p. 168
12 Ibid., p. 168
68