Rare Genuine Ancient Greek silver coin Euboia Histiaia 146-196 BC Tetrobol Nymph

Description

One original ancient Greek silver coin
Greek city on the island of
Euboea Histiaea. 196-146 BC. AR Tetrobol.
AR 11-12mm.1.46gm.
Obv./
Head of nymph Histiaia right, hair wreathed with vine.
Rev./
/ Nymph Histiaia sitting right on stern of galley, ornamented with crescent, holding stylis.
BMC 122
Rare and interesting coin as pictured.
Coin is good condition and a very rare and nice inclusion to the finest ancient coin collection.
Authenticity guaranteed.!!! COA included!!
Situated in the far north of the island, Histiaia did not begin producing coinage until the mid-4th Century B.C. From its extensive silver issues in the Hellenistic age it would appear to be a place of considerable commercial importance.
Istiaia
(Ιστιαία) is a municipality in
Euboea
,
Greece
, and the former capital of the prefecture of
Evia
. Its population is 7,353 (2001). The town is located in the northern end of the island.
Istiaia is mentioned in the
Iliad
by the ancient Greek poet,
Homer
for its rich
vineyards
.
In this 1896 painting by
John William Waterhouse
,
Hylas
is abducted by the
Naiads
, i.e. fresh water nymphs
Echo
, an
Oread
(mountain nymph) watches
Narcissus
in this 1903 painting by
John William Waterhouse
.
A
nymph
(
Greek
:
νύμφη
,
nymphē
) in
Greek mythology
and in
Latin mythology
is a minor female nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as beautiful, young
nubile
maidens who love to dance and sing; their amorous freedom sets them apart from the restricted and chaste wives and daughters of the Greek
polis
. They are believed to dwell in mountains and
groves
, by springs and rivers, and also in trees and in valleys and cool
grottoes
. Although they would never die of old age nor illness, and could give birth to fully immortal children if mated to a god, they themselves were not necessarily immortal, and could be beholden to death in various forms.
Charybdis
and
Scylla
were once nymphs.
Other nymphs, always in the shape of young maidens, were part of the
retinue
of a god, such as
Dionysus
,
Hermes
, or
Pan
, or a goddess, generally the huntress
Artemis
. Nymphs were the frequent target of
satyrs
.
Etymology
Nymphs are personifications of the creative and fostering activities of nature, most often identified with the life-giving outflow of springs: as
Walter Burkert
(Burkert 1985:III.3.3) remarks, "The idea that rivers are gods and springs divine nymphs is deeply rooted not only in poetry but in belief and ritual; the worship of these deities is limited only by the fact that they are inseparably identified with a specific locality."
The
Greek
word
νύμφη
has "bride" and "veiled" among its meanings: hence a marriageable young woman. Other readers refer the word (and also
Latin
nubere
and
German
Knospe
) to a root expressing the idea of "swelling" (according to
Hesychius
, one of the meanings of
νύμφη
is "rose-bud").
Adaptations
The Greek nymphs were spirits invariably bound to places, not unlike the Latin
genius loci
, and the difficulty of transferring their cult may be seen in the complicated myth that brought
Arethusa
to Sicily. In the works of the Greek-educated
Latin poets
, the nymphs gradually absorbed into their ranks the indigenous Italian divinities of springs and streams (
Juturna
,
Egeria
,
Carmentis
,
Fontus
), while the
Lymphae
(originally Lumpae), Italian water-goddesses, owing to the accidental similarity of their names, could be identified with the Greek Nymphae. The mythologies of classicizing Roman poets were unlikely to have affected the rites and cult of individual nymphs venerated by country people in the springs and clefts of
Latium
. Among the
Roman
literate class, their sphere of influence was restricted, and they appear almost exclusively as divinities of the watery element. Nymphs are also portrayed as selfish and as attention seekers who walk around naked in the middle of forests.
Items will be shipped within 1 to 3 business days of purchase completion.
FREE domestic SHIPPING
INTERNATIONAL .99
(REGISTERED-.00) WE COMBINE SHIPPING.
If you would like to have special shipping, please contact us.
All items will be sent out in protected envelope and boxed if necessary.
YOU ARE BIDDING ON AN ANCIENT ITEM(S) AS DESCRIBED AND PICTURED ABOVE!!!
Every item offered by cameleoncoins is unconditionally guaranteed to be genuine & authentic.
We can provide a certificate of authenticity or extended return policy by request only!!!
Please include 5 dollars and a short request with your payment if you would like a COA!!!
If in the unlikely event that an item is found to be reproduction, full return privileges are within 14 days of receiving the coins. We will promptly offer a full refund without hesitation or hassle.