Obolos 13

CORINTHIA. Corinth. Septimius Severus, 193-211. (Bronze, 25 mm, 8.37 g, 10 h). L SCP SVEPS L SEP SEV KY[..] Laureate head of Septimius Severus to right. Rev. CLI COR The monument of Lais in Corinth: Doric column surmounted by a lioness standing over a ram; unclear inscription on the capital (?). BCD -, but the same obverse die as 851. Imhoof-Blumer and Percy Gardner, NCP, p. 19, 14 and pl E, LXXIV-LXXVI (an example struck under S. Severus was noted as being in Vienna, but was unillustrated . A very rare coin with a particularly fascinating reverse . Hole probably caused by a metal fault in the bar from which the flan was cut, or perhaps by an impurity in the alloy corroding out. Very fine.

The monument on the reverse of this exciting coin, is the "sema" that was erected on the grave of Lais, just outside the walls of Corinth, which was described by Pausanias. Lais was a well-known courtesan, renowned for her beauty and for her unparalleled services with which she rewarded her wealthy clients. Diogenes the Cynic, a philosopher who loved the sun and lived in a huge jar near the agora of Corinth, was once asked by a friend of his why he never visited Lais. His reply, "I never spend 10000 drachmas for something that I know I will regret", infuriated Lais; so she thought up a nice trick to get her revenge. She offered her services to Diogenes for free!! That very night, when Diogenes went to visit her place and partake of her gift. However, as the room was quite dark, Lais secretly left and was replaced by her ugliest serving girl. Of course by the next day all Corinth was laughing at this story, and many people had gathered around his "pithos" asking for details! But they only received Diogenes' epic reply: "Λύχνου σβεσθέντος, πάσα γυνή Λαϊς", or, in the English of today: with the lights turned off all women are Lais..