DOI Artikel:
Jellonek, Szymon: Roman foundation myths on colonial coinage
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49247#0118
SZYMON JELLONEK
114
The story of the foundation of Buthrotum is a fine example of a pre-Roman myth
that fits exceptionally well into Imperial propaganda. The Trojan refugee Helenas
founded the city of Buthrotum, which was later visited by Aeneas.85 The sacrificial
bull swam across the channel between the planned city and the peninsula where the
eventual settlement was set up.86 As a result, the animal was frequently depicted on
Buthrotum coinage (e.g. RPC I 1378) (Pl. 3, Fig. 16); once, it was even depicted
swimming across the channel (RPC I 1399). Furthermore, Aeneas (or the genius of
the city) is depicted with a Phrygian cap, raising a cup for a toast (RPC I 1380).87
Corinth, which had a mixture of cultures, made use of its own rich mythology.
Of course it is Bellerophon who takes the lead here. As the grandson of Sisyphus,
the founder of Corinth, it was Bellerophon who played the role of the key hero in
Corinthian iconography.88 Bellerophon and Pegasus (RPC I 1116) (Pl. 3, Fig. 17)
already appeared on coins during the classical age, and the colonists who came to
Corinth at the emperor’s wish placed this local hero with his winged horse on the
reverse of their first coinage already in the year 44/43 BC.89 As a result, it can be
asserted that it was the aim of the colonists to continue the pre-Roman tradition
as opposed to cutting themselves off from it, as was the case in other centers (in
Berytus or in Antioch in Pisidia). In confirmation of this, it is worth adding that
Corinth belonged to a Panhellenic union.90 In later times, the reverses contained the
whole gamut of local heroes, including Melicertes (RPC I 1162) or Isthmus (1164).
However, dozens of demi-god heroes (including Opheltes and Hypsipyle (RPC III
130)) appear during the age of Hadrian on Corinth’s copious issues, which just goes
to prove the existence of a “Greek renaissance”.
Local foundation myths also appeared in the so-called titular colonies in Phoenicia.
Tyre, which received the status of a colony in AD 198, is the most significant example
in which foundation myths were present on the coinage. From its very beginning,
Tyre competed with the neighboring cities of Berytus and Sidon, making use of
Cadmus.91 This son of Agenor, the king of Tyre, is supposed to have founded Thebes
and given Europeans the alphabet.92 Dido was another founder - or rather, a foundress
- associated with the founding of a city. On a coin of Julia Maesa, the queen of Carthage
is depicted next to an altar; a city is in the process of being built in the background
85 Dion. Hal. Am/. Rom. 1.51; Aen. 3. 290-365.
86ABDY 2012: 91.
87 Ibidem'. 92.
88AMANDRY 1988: 30.
89 PAWLAK 2013: 149 150.
90 SPRAWFORTH and WALKER 1985: 80.
91 HOWGEGO 2005: 6.
92GR1MAL 1987: 172-173.
114
The story of the foundation of Buthrotum is a fine example of a pre-Roman myth
that fits exceptionally well into Imperial propaganda. The Trojan refugee Helenas
founded the city of Buthrotum, which was later visited by Aeneas.85 The sacrificial
bull swam across the channel between the planned city and the peninsula where the
eventual settlement was set up.86 As a result, the animal was frequently depicted on
Buthrotum coinage (e.g. RPC I 1378) (Pl. 3, Fig. 16); once, it was even depicted
swimming across the channel (RPC I 1399). Furthermore, Aeneas (or the genius of
the city) is depicted with a Phrygian cap, raising a cup for a toast (RPC I 1380).87
Corinth, which had a mixture of cultures, made use of its own rich mythology.
Of course it is Bellerophon who takes the lead here. As the grandson of Sisyphus,
the founder of Corinth, it was Bellerophon who played the role of the key hero in
Corinthian iconography.88 Bellerophon and Pegasus (RPC I 1116) (Pl. 3, Fig. 17)
already appeared on coins during the classical age, and the colonists who came to
Corinth at the emperor’s wish placed this local hero with his winged horse on the
reverse of their first coinage already in the year 44/43 BC.89 As a result, it can be
asserted that it was the aim of the colonists to continue the pre-Roman tradition
as opposed to cutting themselves off from it, as was the case in other centers (in
Berytus or in Antioch in Pisidia). In confirmation of this, it is worth adding that
Corinth belonged to a Panhellenic union.90 In later times, the reverses contained the
whole gamut of local heroes, including Melicertes (RPC I 1162) or Isthmus (1164).
However, dozens of demi-god heroes (including Opheltes and Hypsipyle (RPC III
130)) appear during the age of Hadrian on Corinth’s copious issues, which just goes
to prove the existence of a “Greek renaissance”.
Local foundation myths also appeared in the so-called titular colonies in Phoenicia.
Tyre, which received the status of a colony in AD 198, is the most significant example
in which foundation myths were present on the coinage. From its very beginning,
Tyre competed with the neighboring cities of Berytus and Sidon, making use of
Cadmus.91 This son of Agenor, the king of Tyre, is supposed to have founded Thebes
and given Europeans the alphabet.92 Dido was another founder - or rather, a foundress
- associated with the founding of a city. On a coin of Julia Maesa, the queen of Carthage
is depicted next to an altar; a city is in the process of being built in the background
85 Dion. Hal. Am/. Rom. 1.51; Aen. 3. 290-365.
86ABDY 2012: 91.
87 Ibidem'. 92.
88AMANDRY 1988: 30.
89 PAWLAK 2013: 149 150.
90 SPRAWFORTH and WALKER 1985: 80.
91 HOWGEGO 2005: 6.
92GR1MAL 1987: 172-173.