Nomos 37

THRACE. Perinthos. Geta, 209-211. 8 Assaria or Medallion (Bronze, 43 mm, 42.81 g, 7 h), from the "Labors of Herakles" series. AYT Π CΕΠ - ΓΕΤΑC CEB Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Geta to right, seen from behind. Rev. ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΕΙ-Α ΠΕΡΙΝΘΙΩΝ / ΝΕΩΚΟΡ/ΩΝ The Tenth Labor of Herakles: Herakles, nude but for a lionskin wrapped over his left arm, striding to left, a club held in his upraised right hand, driving two oxen of Geryon to left. Schönert, Perinthos 663. Voegtli, Heldenepen 6e. Very rare. Well-centered and with an attractive green patina. Very fine.

From the Distinguished Collection, acquired in Germany during the late 1990s.

The games cited on the reverse, the Philadelphian = the Brother-Loving, were held in honour of Severus's two sons, Caracalla and Geta. In fact, as is well-known, they hated each other! As part of his Tenth Labor, Herakles was required to capture the monster Geryon's cattle. He did so, after killing a guard dog, a herdsman and Geryon himself, and was in the process of driving them back home when Hera, feeling her vicious self that day, sent a nasty fly to stampede the herd! After another year of chasing the herd through hither and yon, he got them back: ironically, they were then all sacrificed to Hera!