PHOENICIA, Sidon. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ (29mm, 14.82 g, 12h). Near VF.

Triton XXVI
Lot: 568. Estimated: $ 1 000

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 1 700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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PHOENICIA, Sidon. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ (29mm, 14.82 g, 12h). [IMP] CAESAR M A ANTONINVS AV, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Carriage of Astarte flanked by crescent and star; all within center of zodiacal wheel; around, [COLO AVR PIA METRO SIDON] divided by registers. RPC VI Online 8385; Rouvier 1527. Brown surfaces, smoothed obverse, cleaning scratches, bare metal exposed in spots. Near VF. Very rare.

Astarte, a Syro-Phoenician goddess of fertility, sexuality and war, derived from the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar and was known in other cultures as Asthart and Ashtoreth. She was worshipped in Phoenicia in the form of a baetyl, an aniconic stone cult image. In many cases the baetyl was believed to have fallen from the heavens and would be known today as a meteorite. Perhaps indicative of this connection, here the baetyl is shown on its sacred cart in the center of a Zodiacal ring. The heavenly Zodiacal belt was divided into 12 sections containing the major constellations and planets, whose movements were thought to guide the affairs of humans and gods alike.

The final winners of all Triton XXVI lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 10-11 January 2023.

Triton XXVI – Session Two – Lot 335-673 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 10 January 2023 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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