Obolos 16

CYCLADES, Naxos. 4th century BC. (Bronze, 17 mm, 3.74 g, 3 h). Bearded head of Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. N-A/Ξ-I Kantharos; above, grape bunch. HGC 6, 636. Joy 545. Nicolet-Pierre, Naxos II pl. III, 1-9. Dark brown patina; with a fine depiction of Dionysos. Think flan crack and scattered light porosity, otherwise, nearly very fine.

From the Vineyard Collection, ex München Auction Essen 84, October 2002, 41.

Naxos, the largest of the Cycladic Islands, was the epicenter of Cycladic culture during the late Bronze Age, and its importance continued into classical times. Herodotos describes Naxos shortly before the Greco-Persian Wars as the most prosperous of all Greek islands (Herod. 5.28, 5.31). In fact, it was Persia's failed invasion of Naxos that directly led to the Ionian Revolt. The island's wine was famous in classical times for its superb quality and was, in part, responsible for the island's prosperity. As would be expected from a center of viticulture in the classical period, the cult of Dionysos featured prominently on the island and on the island's coinage. In fact, Naxos was one of the main cult centers of Dionysiac religion in the Greek world (the other being at Thebes in northern Greece), the temple sanctuary of Dionysos at Naxos serving as his principal cult center.