Nomos 19

SYRIA, Coele-Syria. Damascus. Macrinus, 217-218. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 29 mm, 23.21 g, 1 h). AVT KAI M OΠEΛ MAKPINOC CEB Laureate and cuirassed bust of Macrinus to right. Rev. ΔAMACKHNΩN MHTPOΠOΛEOC Ambrosia, nude, standing facing with her head turned to right, metamorphosing into a grape vine: her feet already in the form of a grape vine with leaves, and holding, with both hands, vine tendrils from which grape bunches hang. Apparently unpublished: BMC -, De Saulcy -, SNG Copenhagen -, SNG München -; but for the type and its meaning see, Butcher, Ambrosia in Damascus, NC 2010, pp, 85-91, which includes coins with this reverse type minted by Philip I and Trebonianus Gallus. Of the greatest rarity, possibly unique. Attractive, dark greenish black patina overlaid with sandy deposits. Very fine.

From a German collection, acquired in the 1990s but not properly noticed until now.

In Greek myth Lycurgus was king of the Edoni in Thrace and had a violent hatred for Dionysos and his followers, banning them from his kingdom. As a result, the god drove him insane, so much so that he thought his son was actually an ivy plant, and cruelly killed him. As punishment, Dionysos cursed Thrace and the land became barren until the people killed their king by tossing him to the man-eating horses of the area of Mount Pangaion. In any event, when Lycurgus killed his son he also killed one of the nymphs who was with him, Ambrosia: she was then transformed into a grape vine. It should be noted (see Butcher above) that the scene of this myth seems also to have been placed in Syria.