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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia| ▸ |Cilicia||View Options:   | | | In antiquity, Cilicia (also spelled Kilikia) was a southern coastal region of Anatolia, extending inland north from the Mediterranean coast, east from Pamphylia, to the Amanus Mountains, which separated it from Syria. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and Byzantine Empire. Cilicia Trachea (rugged Cilicia) is a mountain district formed by the spurs of Taurus, which often terminate in rocky headlands with small sheltered harbors, a feature which, in classical times, made the coast a string of havens for pirates and, in the Middle Ages, outposts for Genoese and Venetian traders. Cilicia Trachea lacked large cities and was covered in ancient times by forests that supplied timber to Phoenicia and Egypt. Cilicia Pedias (flat Cilicia), to the east, included the rugged spurs of Taurus and a large coastal plain, with rich loamy soil, known to the Greeks for its abundance, filled with sesame and millet and olives and pasturage for horses. Many of its high places were fortified. Through the rich plain ran the great highway that linked east and west, on which stood the cities of Tarsos (Tarsus) on the Cydnus (Berdan River), Adana on the Sarus (Seyhan river), and Mopsos (Yakapınar) on the Pyramus (Ceyhan River). |
Mazaios was the Persian satrap of Cilicia beginning about 361 BC and in about 345 B.C. he was also made satrap of Transeuphratesia (which included Syria and Judaea). In 331 BC, Mazaios was defeated by Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gaugamela, after which he fled to Babylon. Later that year Mazaios surrendered Babylon, the capital of the Persian Empire, to Alexander. For surrendering without a fight, Alexander appointed Mazaios governor of Babylon. He died in 328 B.C.GS38433. Silver stater, SNG Levante 103, SNG BnF 332, Casabonne 2D, Choice EF, excellent fully centered strike, weight 10.903 g, maximum diameter 24.3 mm, die axis 0o, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, 361/360 - 334 B.C.; obverse BLTRZ (Baaltarz) in Aramaic (read upward) behind, Baal of Tarsos enthroned half-left, nude to waist, himation around hips and legs, holding bunch of grapes, grain ear, and eagle in right hand, lotus tipped scepter vertical behind in left hand, Aramaic R lower left, Aramaic M below throne; reverse lion bringing down bull, attacking with teeth and claws, MZDI (Mazaios) in Aramaic (read right to left) above; SOLD
Roman, Tarsus, Cilicia, Green Lead Glazed Skyphos (Drinking Cup), c. 50 B.C. - 50 A.D.
Ex Royal-Athena Galleries, 1960's or earlier (with their tag on the bottom priced at $300); Ex Jerome Eisenberg, 1971. From the collection of Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years.
Our skyphos appears to share the same glaze as a similar skyphos from Tarsus in the British Museum. The thick lead silicate glass glaze was used both on the interior and exterior but firing conditions resulted in the different interior and exterior colors. Because the glaze would bond to anything it touched in the kiln, these cups were fired upside down, supported by a tall stand with three long prongs which contacted only the interior bottom. The marks from the prongs can be seen inside. Click here to see the British Museum skyphos.
It was at Tarsus, during the same period this cup was made, that Cleopatra and Mark Antony held their celebrated feasts during the construction of their fleet (41 B.C.). Cups such as this were luxury items, suitable for such feasts.
AI36086. Anatolian Skyphos; Malloy, Ancient Art catalogue 1971, 151; cf. Walters, Catalogue of the Roman Pottery in the Dept. of Antiquities, British Museum, Choice, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, deep rich green exterior, honey brown interior, cylindrical body with small grape (or floral) relief design on the side, palmet and scroll ornamented ring handles, low ring foot; reconstructed, near complete; SOLD
Macedonian Kingdom, Demetrius I Poliorketes, 306 - 283 B.C.
Demetrios was called Poliorcetes, "The Besieger" for his creative siege engines including a battering ram 180 feet long requiring 1000 men and a wheeled siege tower named "Helepolis" (or "Taker of Cities") which stood 125 feet tall and 60 feet wide, weighing 360,000 pounds.SH28933. Silver tetradrachm, CNG 73, 153; apparently unpublished, cf. Newell 33 (stater with these monograms), gVF, weight 17.045 g, maximum diameter 26.9 mm, die axis 0o, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, c. 298 - 295 B.C; obverse Nike atop prow of galley decorated with apotropaic eye left, blowing trumpet and holds stylis; reverse ΔHMHTPIOY / BAΣI-ΛEΩΣ, Poseidon stands left, naked save chlamys over extended left arm, about to hurl trident with right, monograms either side; toned, very fine obverse style; rare; SOLD
Persian Empire, Tiribazos, Satrap of Cilicia, 388 - 380 B.C., Issos, Cilicia
Issus or Issos was on the strategic coastal plain straddling the small Pinarus river (a fast melt-water stream several meters wide) below the navigationally difficult inland mountains towering above to the east in the Turkish Province of Hatay, near the border with Syria. Excavations on the mound occurred between 1992 and 2012 by Bilkent University. It is most notable for being the place of no fewer than three decisive ancient or medieval battles each called in their own era the Battle of Issus:
- The Battle of Issus (333 B.C.); Alexander the Great of Macedonia defeated Darius III of Persia. This battle is occasionally called the First Battle of Issus, but is more generally known simply as the Battle of Issus, owing to the importance of Alexander's victory over the First Persian Empire and its impact on subsequent history of the region, including all the successor polities.
- Battle of Issus (194), or Second Battle of Issus, between the forces of Emperor Septimius Severus and his rival, Pescennius Niger.
- Battle of Issus (622), or Third Battle of Issus, between the Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Persian Empire.GS33197. Silver stater, SNGvA 5601 var. (ethnic spelling), gVF, weight 10.451 g, maximum diameter 22.2 mm, die axis 0o, Cilicia, Issos (near Dörtyol, Turkey) mint, 386 - 380 B.C.; obverse Ahura-Mazda, head right, body terminated by solar disk, holding wreath and lotus blossom; reverse Baal standing half-left, eagle in right, long scepter in left hand, IΣΣΕΩN (sic) left, Aramaic TRIBZW right; ex Künker auction 143, lot 233 (misattributed as SNG France 418, price realized 800 Euro), areas of porosity, well centered and struck on a particularly full flan for the type; very rare; SOLD
Gordian I Africanus and Gordian II Africanus, c. 18 or 22 March - 12 April 238 A.D., Aegeae, Cilicia, Posthumous
This is the only known coin type of Divus Gordian I or Divus Gordian II. It was struck during the reign of either Pupienus or Balbinus, May - Jul 238 A.D.RP99979. Bronze AE 31, RPC Online VII-2 3168/2 (this coin, 4 spec. of the type); Haymann Aigeai 198; v. Sallett in ZfN 7, 1880, p. 140, F, porous, edge chip or flaw, weight 18.998 g, maximum diameter 31.1 mm, die axis 180o, Aigeai (near Yumurtalik, Turkey) mint, under Pupienus & Balbinus, May - Jul 238 A.D.; obverse ΘEOYC ΓOPΔIANOYC CEM PW AΦPI CEBB (Divi Gordiani Semproniani Romani Africani Augusti), confronted heads of Gordian I and Gordian II, both laureate; reverse CEY AΔPI AIΓEAIWN NE NA, eagle standing slightly left on altar, head turned back right, wings open, Δ/Π/C (year 284) in a downward column inner left; ex Savoca Numismatik auction 133 (15 May 2022), lot 231; ex Münzen Gut-Lynt GmbH 2 (20 Jun 2021), lot 77; extremely rare; SOLD
Persian Empire, Mazaios, Satrap of Cilicia, 361 - 334 B.C., Tarsos, Cilicia
Mazaios was the Persian satrap of Cilicia beginning about 361 BC and in about 345 B.C. he was also made satrap of Transeuphratesia (which included Syria and Judaea). In 331 BC, Mazaios was defeated by Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gaugamela, after which he fled to Babylon. Later that year Mazaios surrendered Babylon, the capital of the Persian Empire, to Alexander. For surrendering without a fight, Alexander appointed Mazaios governor of Babylon. He died in 328 B.C.GS28915. Silver stater, Casabonne 2F, SNG Levante 100 var. (additional Aramaic letters lower reverse), SNG BnF 100 (no Aramaic N), Choice EF, great well-centered strike on very good metal, weight 10.966 g, maximum diameter 22.4 mm, die axis 135o, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, 361 - 334 B.C.; obverse BLTRZ (Baaltarz) in Aramaic (read upward) behind, Baal of Tarsos enthroned half-left, nude to waist, himation around hips and legs, holding bunch of grapes, grain ear, and eagle in right hand, lotus tipped scepter vertical behind in left hand, Aramaic N lower left; reverse lion bringing down bull, attacking with teeth and claws, MZDI (=Mazdai) in Aramaic above, letters below, all within a circle of dots; SOLD
Persian Empire, Mazaios, Satrap of Cilicia, 361 - 334 B.C., Tarsos, Cilicia
Mazaios was the Persian satrap of Cilicia beginning about 361 BC and in about 345 B.C. he was also made satrap of Transeuphratesia (which included Syria and Judaea). In 331 BC, Mazaios was defeated by Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gaugamela, after which he fled to Babylon. Later that year Mazaios surrendered Babylon, the capital of the Persian Empire, to Alexander. For surrendering without a fight, Alexander appointed Mazaios governor of Babylon. He died in 328 B.C.SH26662. Silver stater, SGCV II 5649, EF, extraordinary sharp and bold strike, obverse and reverse slightly off-center, weight 11.010 g, maximum diameter 23.9 mm, die axis 0o, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, 361 - 334 B.C.; obverse BLTRZ (=Baaltarz) in Aramaic behind, Baal of Tarsos enthroned left, head facing, holding bunch of grapes, grain ear, and eagle in right, lotus headed scepter in left hand, M below throne, all within a circle of dots; reverse lion bringing down bull, attacking with teeth and claws, MZDI (=Mazdai) in Aramaic above, letters below, all within a circle of dots; this type is one of our favorites!; SOLD
Aigeai, Cilicia, 31 - 30 B.C.
The era of Aigeai starts in Autumn 47 B.C.SH35593. Silver tetradrachm, SNG Levante 1655, Bloesch 111, VF, weight 14.201 g, maximum diameter 26.5 mm, die axis 0o, Aigeai (near Yumurtalik, Turkey) mint, 31 - 30 B.C.; obverse veiled and turreted head of Tyche right; reverse AIΓEAIΩN, Athena standing left holding Nike and scepter, shield at feet, ΔI and club in left field, IC in exergue; SOLD
Seleukid Kingdom, Demetrius II Nikator, 146 - 138 and 129 - 125 B.C.
Demetrius II ruled for two periods, separated by years of captivity in Parthia. He gained the throne with the help of Egypt, but general Diodotus rebelled, took Antioch and made Antiochus VI Dionysus his puppet king. Demetrius then ruled part of the kingdom from Seleucia. In 38 B.C. he attacked the Parthians but was defeated and captured, ending his first reign. The Parthians released him in 129 B.C. when his brother, Antiochus VII Sidetes, marched against Parthia. They hoped the brothers would fight a civil war but the Parthians soon defeated Sidetes, and Demetrius returned to rule Syria. His second reign portraits show him wearing a Parthian style beard. His second reign ended when he was defeated and killed by yet another usurper set up by Egypt, Alexander II Zabinas.GS85157. Silver tetradrachm, Houghton-Lorber II 2155 (same dies), Houghton Tarsus A2/P2 (same dies), HGC 9 1116a (R3), EF, fantastic portrait, marks and scratches, edge crack, obverse damage in beard, slight double strike on reverse, weight 16.364 g, maximum diameter 31.9 mm, die axis 0o, Royal workshop, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, 2nd reign, 129 - 125 B.C.; obverse diademed bust of bearded Demetrios II right, hair combed smooth on the crown of head, diadem ends fall straight, fillet border; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ΔHMHTPIOY in two downward lines on the right, ΘEOY / NIKATOPOΣ in two downward lines on the left, Zeus seated left, Nike in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, Nike facing right inside inscription and offering wreath to Zeus, HAP and NE monograms in exergue; only a few examples of this extremely rare type known and all are apparently from the same die pair; extremely rare; SOLD
Kelenderis, Cilicia, c. 425 - 350 B.C.
Kelenderis was a port town, one of the oldest in Cilicia, described in Hellenistic and Roman sources as a small, but strong castle. The rider on the obverse may be Castor, who was not only a horse trainer but also the protector of sailors, an appropriate type for a port town.SH70330. Silver stater, SNG Levante 23 (same dies); SNG Cop 83 (same dies); SNGvA 5631 (same dies); BMC Lycaonia p. 54, 20 ff. var. (no dolphin); SNG BnF 66 var. (same), VF, superb style, well centered, light toning, weight 10.685 g, maximum diameter 20.9 mm, die axis 270o, Kelenderis (Aydincik, Turkey) mint, c. 425 - 350 B.C.; obverse nude horseman facing sidesaddle on horse rearing right, whip in right; reverse KEΛEN, goat kneeling right, looking back, dolphin right in exergue; SOLD
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