Lot 3577

Description

Phoenicia, Tripolis, Elagabalus, (A.D. 218-222), AE 25, (9.4 grams), issued 220-221, obv. Elagabalus laureate head to right, around traces of AYT KM AVP ANTWNINOC, rev. Altar of Astarte, with two wings each of four columns, centre with arch with Astarte within, steps before, on left, TPI **PO LI [TWN]*, **BLF* to left in exergue, (S.-, BMC 120 [Pl.XXVIII,5], Baramki AUB 52). Weak in places on legend, otherwise very fine and rare.

This issue relates to the important cult at Tripolis of Astarte the consort of Zeus Hagias, and uses as the motif the temple of this goddess on the reverse with the statue of Astarte within the central podium, who is approached by the series of steps leading into the temple. An important pictorial issue of this temple