Obolos 16

CYCLADES, Naxos. 4th century BC. (Bronze, 11 mm, 1.54 g, 3 h). Bearded head of Dionysos to left, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. N-A-[Ξ] (faint) Kantharos with an ivy leaf hanging from each handle; above, grape bunch. HGC 6, 641. Joy 543. Nicolet-Pierre, Naxos II pl. I, 1-24. Brown patina. Fine.

From the Vineyard Collection, ex Spartan 17, 10 October 2000, 62.

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.