Nomos 20

KINGS OF ARMENIA MINOR. Aristobulus, with Salome, AD 54-92. Dichalkon (Bronze, 21 mm, 5.83 g, 12 h), Nicopolis-ad-Lycum, year 13 = 66/7. ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC ΑΡΙCΤΟΒΟVΛΟV ΕΤ ΙΓ Diademed and draped bust of Aristobulus to left. Rev. ΒΑCΙΛΙC-CΗC CΑΛΟΜΗC Diademed and draped bust of Salome to left. Hendin 1257a. RPC 3840. J.M.C. Toynbee, Roman Historical Portraits (London, 1978), pp. 151-152 and ill. 301-302. Very rare and of great interest. With clear portraits, full legends, and an olive-brown patina. Traces of corrosion, otherwise, about extremely fine.

This coin provides us with a tangible link to one of the most infamous of all women: Salome, the daughter of Herodias and Herod II (also known as Herod Philip), whose portrait appears here on the reverse. Salome, who was born in c. 14, would have been in her mid to late teens when she did her famous dance before her step-father Herod Antipas, which resulted in her receipt of the head of John the Baptist as a reward (in this she was prompted by her mother, Herodias, whom John had condemned for divorcing Herod II and marrying his half-brother Antipas). It should be noted that the Herodian family was, in general, among the most unpleasant and murderous ever to have ruled: they seem to have spent most of their time murdering or executing their close relatives (including wives, children, etc.). After her famous dance, Salome was first married to the Tetrarch Philip of Ituraea and Trakonitis; he died in 34 (apparently naturally) and soon after Salome married Aristobulus of Chalcis, great-grandson of Herod the Great (37-4 BCE). Aristobulus, son of Herod of Chalcis (died in 48/9), was made ruler of Chalcis in 52 and, in 55, was made king of Armenia Minor by Nero. This kingdom was in east-central Anatolia, below Pontus. The portraits on this coin, while not made by the finest engravers, show us a pair of powerful individuals, both in their early 50s; clearly there is no sign of Salome’s teenage allure, which so besotted her step-father Antipas. Exactly what Salome did with John the Baptist's head is unclear: she is thought to have given it to her mother, Herodias who was a prominent collector at the time, but what subsequently happened to it is unknown. There is a very famous painting by Titian of Salome holding the head on a platter – now in the Doria Pamphilj where it has been since the earlier 17th century – which also shows Salome's young maid, looking rather perplexed by the situation ("What do you want me to do with it?" she seems to be saying).