DOI issue:
Artykuły
DOI article:Bodzek, Jarosław: Pharnabazus once again
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22228#0030
Jarosław Bodzek
2. Pharnabazus' coins emitted in Samaria relate through iconography
and inscriptions on obverses to those struck in Cyzicus. The relationship con-
cerns, first of all, the representation of a head in a tiara. It is true that represen-
tations differ in some details. On coins from Cyzicus, the head of the satrap is
turned to the right, on Samarian coins - to the left. In the first case, the flaps
of the tiara are tied under the chin of the portrayed man, in the second, they
hang loose. Nevertheless, the generał likeness is undisputed. The legend con-
firms that impression - in both cases it is the name of Pharnabazus written
in Greek alphabet. However the form and the way of writing are different.
The differences in the writing of legend dependant on denomination seem to
have a limited significance (this particular problem may be of minor signifi-
cance). As far as reverses are concerned, one may point out just one common
element: a fantastic, winged creature. Still the creatures are different - griffin
(Cyzicus) and hippocampus (Samaria). Additionally, in the case of Samarian
coins, the creature exists as a main type of reverse while in emission from
Cyzicus it appears only as a decoration of a prow.
3. The lack of any similarities in iconography between Samarian and Ci-
lician Pharnabazus' coins is a striking poinP8. It carries parhcular significance
in the context of numerous examples of Cilician coins being used in Samarian
coinage as prototypes. For example the head in hara, well known in Samarian
Coinage representation appears on other Cilician Coins from the eighties of
the 4th century BC which are anonymous or struck in the name of Tiribazus38 39.
ATRIBUTION, DATING, CONTEXT:
The basie problems around Samarian coins with the name of Phar-
nabazus are connected with attribution (whether it concerns that
38 Cf. MESHORER, QEDAR, Samarian Coinage, p. 29.
39 Anonymous emissions Cf. SNG v. Aulock 5716-17; SNG France 2,391-397 (Mallus); SNG v.Au-
lock 5862-63; SNG France 2,159-163 (Soli); SNG Berry 1281 (Nagidus?); Tiribazus: BABELON, Traite
II, 2, no 578, PI. CYII, 16; HARRISON, Coins...p. 169; SNG France 2, 232.
26
2. Pharnabazus' coins emitted in Samaria relate through iconography
and inscriptions on obverses to those struck in Cyzicus. The relationship con-
cerns, first of all, the representation of a head in a tiara. It is true that represen-
tations differ in some details. On coins from Cyzicus, the head of the satrap is
turned to the right, on Samarian coins - to the left. In the first case, the flaps
of the tiara are tied under the chin of the portrayed man, in the second, they
hang loose. Nevertheless, the generał likeness is undisputed. The legend con-
firms that impression - in both cases it is the name of Pharnabazus written
in Greek alphabet. However the form and the way of writing are different.
The differences in the writing of legend dependant on denomination seem to
have a limited significance (this particular problem may be of minor signifi-
cance). As far as reverses are concerned, one may point out just one common
element: a fantastic, winged creature. Still the creatures are different - griffin
(Cyzicus) and hippocampus (Samaria). Additionally, in the case of Samarian
coins, the creature exists as a main type of reverse while in emission from
Cyzicus it appears only as a decoration of a prow.
3. The lack of any similarities in iconography between Samarian and Ci-
lician Pharnabazus' coins is a striking poinP8. It carries parhcular significance
in the context of numerous examples of Cilician coins being used in Samarian
coinage as prototypes. For example the head in hara, well known in Samarian
Coinage representation appears on other Cilician Coins from the eighties of
the 4th century BC which are anonymous or struck in the name of Tiribazus38 39.
ATRIBUTION, DATING, CONTEXT:
The basie problems around Samarian coins with the name of Phar-
nabazus are connected with attribution (whether it concerns that
38 Cf. MESHORER, QEDAR, Samarian Coinage, p. 29.
39 Anonymous emissions Cf. SNG v. Aulock 5716-17; SNG France 2,391-397 (Mallus); SNG v.Au-
lock 5862-63; SNG France 2,159-163 (Soli); SNG Berry 1281 (Nagidus?); Tiribazus: BABELON, Traite
II, 2, no 578, PI. CYII, 16; HARRISON, Coins...p. 169; SNG France 2, 232.
26