Nomos 12

CRETE, Chersonesos. 330-300 BC. Stater (Silver, 25mm, 10.86 g 1). Laureate head of Zeus to right, with long locks of hair falling down the back of his neck. Rev. ΧΕΡΣΟΝΑΣΙΩΝ Artemis-Britomartis seated left on high-backed throne; draped, resting her left hand on the throne and holding, in her right hand, a stag leaping to left. Babelon, Traité 1479 and pl. CCXLVI. 23. Le Rider -, but see p. 17, n. 2 and pl. XXXIV, 15 (=BM ex Evans, AC XII, 1926, 1585). Extremely rare, one of, perhaps, six known examples, four of which being in museums. Some corrosion and somewhat crudely struck on a very irregular flan; otherwise, very fine.

From the Brünn Collection, acquired in Italy prior to World War I.

Chersonesos, or Chersonasos, was the port for the major inland city of Lyttos (or Lyktos) and was itself a flourishing town well into Byzantine times. It was well known for its sanctuary to the pre-Greek, Minoan, goddess Britomartis who was, in Classical times, identified with Artemis in an effort to ‘civilize’ her, since in the Minoan period she apparently was both a powerful and a dreadful figure (she probably retained that aspect among the rural population).