I was attracted to this coin from Priene by the strong depiction of Athena, and it is another city I found interesting. Though the surface of the coin is grainy it still retains a fair amount of detail. Alexander the Great dedicated a temple to Athena at Priene, the remains of which can still be seen today. A stone inscription recording the event can also be seen in the British Museum.
The initial origins and location of Priene are unknown, but legend has it that the city was founded by Athenian settlers in the 11th or 10th centuries BC. Over the centuries it would see an almost continual flow of conquerors, occupiers and "liberators". After the revolt against Darius which led to the Persian invasion of Greece, Priene was destroyed as a punishment for the rebels. Rebuilding would involve one of many relocations of the city over the centuries, the new Priene being founded in 350 BC.
Strabo Geography Vol III 1857, page 2:
Myus was founded by Cydrelus, a spurious son of Codrus; Lebedos by Andropompus, who took possession of a place called Artis; Colophon by Andræmon, a Pylian, as Mimnermus mentions in his poem of Nanno; Priene by Æpytus, a son of Neleus; and afterwards by Philotas, who brought a colony from Thebes; Teos by Athamas, it's first founder, whence Anacreon calls the city Athamantis; Erythræ was founded by Cnopus.
Strabo Geography Vol III 1857, page 7:
After the mouths of the Mæander, follows the shore of Priene. Above it is Priene, and the mountain Mycale, which abounds with animals of the chace, and is covered with forests. It is situated above the Samian territory, and forms towards it, beyond the promontory Trogilium, a strait of above 7 stadia in width. Priene is called by some writers Cadme, because Philotus, it's second founder was a Btian. Bias, one of the seven wise men, was a native of Priene, of whom Hipponax uses this expression; "More just in pleadings than Bias of Priene."
Priene - Ionia 240-170 BC. Magistrate ΑΠΟΛΛΟΔ...
Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena right. Reverse: ΠΡIHN(E) AΠOΛΛO(Δ) in two lines within maeander pattern. Bronze. Diameter: 15 mm. Weight: 3.4 gr.
Reference: BMC 16-17; Regling Priene 62; SNG Cop. 1093
A similar coin in Wildwinds:
https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/gre...e/BMC_16.jpgACSearch results:
https://www.acsearch.info/search.ht...=usd&order=0
Posted 04/01/2023 2:07 pm
