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CORINTHIA, Corinth. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ (23mm, 8.08 g, 3h). Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front, cuirass decorated with a gorgoneion / Melikertes riding dolphin right; behind, pine tree. BCD Korinth 858 (this coin); NCP –; BMC 649. Brown patina, roughness. Fine.
Ex Naville Numismatics 64 (21 March 2021), lot 180; BCD Collection (Numismatik Lanz 105, 26 November 2001), lot 858.
The Corinthians credited their king Sisyphos with founding of the Isthmian Games at the funeral of the boy-hero Melikertes-Palaimon at Isthmia. Adjacent to the early sanctuary of Poseidon was the Palamaion, an extensive cult area with sacrificial pits and a circular temple of Hadrianic date, which was transformed during the joint reign of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. According to Pausanias (I, 70-72 and III, 4-16), within the temple was a statue of Melikertes-Palaimon riding on a dolphin.
Athamas, the son of Aiolos and king of Orchomenos in Boeotia, was driven mad by Hera because he had sheltered Dionysos. After he killed his son Learchos, he pursued Ino into the sea with their son Melikertes, where both were transformed into marine deities. Ino became Leukothea, and Melikertes changed to Palaimon and a dolphin carried his body ashore on the Sardonic Gulf.
Closing Date and Time: 1 May 2024 at 12:18:20 ET.
All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.
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