CAMPANIA, Neapolis. Circa 275-250 BC. AR Nomos (21mm, 7.21 g, 11h). Diademed head of nymph left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace; to right, Artemis standing right, holding torch in both hands / Man-headed bull walking right; above, Nike flying right, placing wreath on bull's head; IΣ below; NEOΠOΛITΩN in exergue. Sambon –; HN Italy 586; BMC 87; SNG France –; SNG ANS –. Good VF, toned. Scarce symbol for issue.
Ex Gorny & Mosch 125 (13 October 2003), lot 21.
Neapolis, modern-day Naples, located in Southwestern Italy in the region of Campania on the Bay of Naples, an arm of the Tyrrhenian Sea, was founded from Cumae (Cuma) by the Greeks in 650 BC, along the port area, including the little island of Megaris (the Castel dell’Ovo). Further colonists came from Chalcis in Euboea, from Pithecusae (Ischia) beside the Gulf of Cumae, and from Athens. An extension of the city was laid out in a rectangular grid pattern toward the northeast, which was given the name Neapolis. After the city of Neapolis was created, the oldest part of the city became known as Palaiopolis or Palaipolis (Old City). That city was conquered by the Roman general Quintus Publilius Philo about 327/6 BC, after which Neapolis became an ally of the Romans, issuing bronze coins, with legends in Greek, extending help in their hostilities against Pyrrhos of Epeiros (280-275 BC) and against Hannibal in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC).
Throughout its history, the water was a source of pride to its local community. It follows naturally, then, that the predominant reverse type of the nomoi represents a water god as a man-headed bull walking right or left, being crowned with a wreath by Nike flying above. The Neapolitan bull is meant to represent Achelöos, the greatest water god of ancient Greece. Achelöos, referred to by Homer (Iliad XXI.194), was the longest river in mainland Greece. The cult of this powerful water god spread throughout ancient Greece. Achelöos’ battle with Herakles for the hand of Deianeira is a legend that made him particularly popular.
