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Greek coins. Mysia, Cyzicus. Stater ca 460-400, EL 16.05g.

Currency:CHF Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Ancient Start Price:28,000.00 CHF Estimated At:35,000.00 CHF
Greek coins. Mysia, Cyzicus. Stater ca 460-400, EL 16.05g.
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Greek coins. Mysia, Cyzicus. Stater ca. 460-400, EL 16.05g. Helios, naked, kneeling on r. knee and holding foreparts of two horses prancing l. and r. at his sides by bridles; below, tunny r. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Boston 1515. von Fritze 148. SNG France 297. SNG von Aulock 7311 (these dies). Extremely rare and a very interesting representation. Exceptionally well centred on a full flan and about extremely fine. This stater shows the radiate sun-god Helios holding the reins of two horses, all above a tunny fish, the badge of Cyzicus. Since at least the 6th Century B.C. the Greek sun-god was depicted as a charioteer whose task was to cross the sky from east to west in a chariot drawn by immortal steeds. The journey is most prominently captured on the south-east angle of the pediment of the Parthenon, where Helios is shown driving four horses upward. One of the most important myths of Helios, which demonstrates the power of his immortal horses, recounts how his son Phaethon begged for the chance to drive the chariot. Helios was only too aware of the danger, and tried to dissuade him. However, Phaethon could not be swayed, and so he was allowed to perform the duty for a single day. At one point during his journey Phaethon was overwhelmed, as he did not have the strength and experience to control the horses. The chariot of the sun came so close to the earth in some places it ignited fires, boiled rivers, dried up fountains and caused part of the human race to turn black in colour. Alarmed by this turn of events, Zeus struck Phaethon with a bolt of lightning that ejected him from the chariot and into the river Eridanos. For such an ancient and important god, Helios received surprisingly little cult worship from the Greeks; the only major cult was at Rhodes, where he was honoured as the foremost god of the city. His greatest impact would not occur until the 3rd and 4th Centuries A.D., when Romans would worship him as Sol Invictus, a universal god whose worship helped pave the way for acceptance of the monotheistic faith of the Christians. Indeed, examples of early Christian art show Christ driving a chariot skyward as a metaphor for Ascension and Resurrection.