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TROAS, Alexandria Troas. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Assarion (24mm, 7.10 g, 6h). Laureate head right / Herakles standing facing, head left, wrestling Antaeus, holding and lifting him at his hip. Bellinger A281. Dark green patina, some roughness and smoothing. VF.
From the collection of Major Anthony F. Milavic, USMC (Ret.). Ex James E. Cain Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 76, 12 September 2007), lot 1064.
A giant of Libya and the son of Poseidon and Gaia (the earth goddess), Antaeus would challenge travelers to wrestling matches, easily killing his opponents and collecting their bones to construct a temple to his father. It was en route to the Garden of Hesperides to complete his eleventh labor that Herakles met Antaeus. A wrestling match ensued, but Herakles was unable to finish his opponent as Antaeus regained his strength each time the hero threw him to the ground. Realizing Antaeus’ strength waned as the he left the earth (the protective realm of his mother), Herakles lifted the giant aloft while crushing him to death.
Closing Date and Time: 4 December 2024 at 12:00:40 ET.
All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.
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