Crown of the High Priest of Cilicia

192, Lot: 125. Estimate $200. Sold for $580. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CILICIA, Tarsus. Maximus. Caesar, AD 235/6-238. Æ 32mm (16.63 g). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Cilicarch crown decorated with six imperial heads and Nike holding a wreath and palm. SNG France 1615 (same obv. die); SNG Levante -. VF, brown patina with a few spots of green. Interesting reverse type.

The Cilicarch or Ciliarch was the name for the high priest of Cilicia who presided over provincial temples dedicated to certain emperors. The different busts which decorate the crown represent the various emperors who were honored at each respective temple. Such crowns, as bearers of imperial likenesses, were sacred objects in themselves. According to early Christian tradition St. Thecla knocked off the crown of the priest of the Imperial Cult in Pisidia in her effort to fend of his assault on her - an action that was grounds for his charging her with 'sacrilege' and sentencing her to be killed by beasts in the arena.