DOI Artikel:
Bodzek, Jarosław: On two lesser-known satrapal issues
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.31074#0016
JAROSŁAW BODZEK
SŁOWA KLUCZOWE: Azja Mniejsza, Cylicja, Egipt, irański kawalerzysta,
Lewant, Licja, Syennesis, satrapa, moneta satrapia
The minting activity of satraps and other military and administrative ofhcials
in the Achaemenid Empire is a complex phenomenonń Its complexity is partially
the result of the diversity of the coin types present, which were used in different
issues struck by different issuers in different mints under varying circumstances.
Some of the newer satrapal coin types on the antiquary market, which were previ-
ousiy unrecorded, have further increased the degree of complexity, but at the same
time have also ahowed us to better understand the topie. In this article, I would
like to focus on two lesser-known satrapal issues that have appeared on the market
in recent decades. These issues are seemingly of different origin but make use of
a common iconographic language. This paper's aim is to discuss their origin, dat-
ing, meaning and iconography.
The hrst coin, seemingly unique, appeared on the antiquities market a few
years ago/ It is a smali, anepigraphic piece struck in bronze and bears "Achaeme-
nid" types.
1. Unknown Satrap, South-Westem Asia Minor? Levant? Egypt? c. 350-330 BC
OBVERSE: a kneeling bowman in an Iranian riding costume drawing a bow facing right
REVERSE: an Iranian-clad horseman brandishing a javelin facing right
AE, 1.34 g, 12.01 mm (PI. 1, Fig. 1)
ICONOGRAPHY
On the obverse, a bowman kneeling and drawing a bow is depicted. He is
wearing an Iranian riding costume consisting of a tiara, a long sleeved robę that
reaches down to the knees (sarapis) and trousers (anaxyrides)d The horseman on
the reverse is wearing similar clothing, but his sarapis is girded (it is unclear if this
is the case with the obverse bowman). He is also armed with a javelin. Although
the reverse type is partly off the han, it is probable that the horse is depicted in an
elongated gallop. The horse's back is covered with a fringed saddlecloth (casa).^
^ For satrapal coinage in the Achaemenid period, see BODZEK 2011: passim; IDEM 2014; this contains
an additional bibliography.
^ According to www.ancientimports, Internet sale, 19.08.2010; the coin was briehy discussed in BODZEK
2011:203f, 251,P1. IX, 14-14b.
^ On specihc elements of the Iranian riding costume cf. Tiara/Kyrbasia: GOW 1928: 144, notę 30; VON
GALL 1974: 145ff; CALMEYER 1977: 168ff; ZAHLE 1982: lOlff; BITTNER 1987: 193ff; VON GALL
1990: 320ff; SHAHBAZI 2014; CALMEYER 1993: 407f; HURSCHMANN 2002: 528; TUPLIN 2007: 67ff;
BODZEK 2011: 219ff; trousers calledanaxyrides: BRZÓSTKOWSKA 1980; B1TTNER1987: 186f; SHAHBAZI
2014; sarapis: BITTNER 1987: 181ff; SHAHBAZI 2014.
s Cf. BITTNER 1987: 238.
SŁOWA KLUCZOWE: Azja Mniejsza, Cylicja, Egipt, irański kawalerzysta,
Lewant, Licja, Syennesis, satrapa, moneta satrapia
The minting activity of satraps and other military and administrative ofhcials
in the Achaemenid Empire is a complex phenomenonń Its complexity is partially
the result of the diversity of the coin types present, which were used in different
issues struck by different issuers in different mints under varying circumstances.
Some of the newer satrapal coin types on the antiquary market, which were previ-
ousiy unrecorded, have further increased the degree of complexity, but at the same
time have also ahowed us to better understand the topie. In this article, I would
like to focus on two lesser-known satrapal issues that have appeared on the market
in recent decades. These issues are seemingly of different origin but make use of
a common iconographic language. This paper's aim is to discuss their origin, dat-
ing, meaning and iconography.
The hrst coin, seemingly unique, appeared on the antiquities market a few
years ago/ It is a smali, anepigraphic piece struck in bronze and bears "Achaeme-
nid" types.
1. Unknown Satrap, South-Westem Asia Minor? Levant? Egypt? c. 350-330 BC
OBVERSE: a kneeling bowman in an Iranian riding costume drawing a bow facing right
REVERSE: an Iranian-clad horseman brandishing a javelin facing right
AE, 1.34 g, 12.01 mm (PI. 1, Fig. 1)
ICONOGRAPHY
On the obverse, a bowman kneeling and drawing a bow is depicted. He is
wearing an Iranian riding costume consisting of a tiara, a long sleeved robę that
reaches down to the knees (sarapis) and trousers (anaxyrides)d The horseman on
the reverse is wearing similar clothing, but his sarapis is girded (it is unclear if this
is the case with the obverse bowman). He is also armed with a javelin. Although
the reverse type is partly off the han, it is probable that the horse is depicted in an
elongated gallop. The horse's back is covered with a fringed saddlecloth (casa).^
^ For satrapal coinage in the Achaemenid period, see BODZEK 2011: passim; IDEM 2014; this contains
an additional bibliography.
^ According to www.ancientimports, Internet sale, 19.08.2010; the coin was briehy discussed in BODZEK
2011:203f, 251,P1. IX, 14-14b.
^ On specihc elements of the Iranian riding costume cf. Tiara/Kyrbasia: GOW 1928: 144, notę 30; VON
GALL 1974: 145ff; CALMEYER 1977: 168ff; ZAHLE 1982: lOlff; BITTNER 1987: 193ff; VON GALL
1990: 320ff; SHAHBAZI 2014; CALMEYER 1993: 407f; HURSCHMANN 2002: 528; TUPLIN 2007: 67ff;
BODZEK 2011: 219ff; trousers calledanaxyrides: BRZÓSTKOWSKA 1980; B1TTNER1987: 186f; SHAHBAZI
2014; sarapis: BITTNER 1987: 181ff; SHAHBAZI 2014.
s Cf. BITTNER 1987: 238.