Description: Archaios Numismatics __________________________________________ Description: Greek Bronze Coin of Elaia in Aeolis in Asia Minor during the 2nd to 1st Century BC. Obverse: Wreathed Head of Demeter Right Reverse: lit race torch with ethnic around on two lines: Ε-ΛΑ/IΤ-ΩΝ, all within wreath of corn. Mint: Elaia, Aeolis Size: 15 mm Weight: 3.18 g Ref: SNG von Aulock (Supplement) 7685; Inventory: 54.15 Condition: gF/aVF. Nice example of this Rare and Interesting Race torch type from Elaia ! Use the Picture as your judge as grading is subjective. Note: Elaia (or Elaea) was an ancient city of Aeolis, Asia, the port of Pergamum. According to the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World, it was located near the modern town of Zeytindağ in İzmir Province, Turkey. The ruins of the silted port's breakwater can be seen on satellite maps. The site location from ancient times seems to be uncertain. According to Stephanus of Byzantium, it was also called Cidaenis, and was founded by Menestheus; but it seems likely that there is some error in the reading Cidaenis. Strabo places Elaea south of the river Caicus, 12 stadia from the river, and 120 stadia from Pergamum. The Caicus enters a bay, which was called Elaiticus Sinus, or the bay of Elaea. Strabo calls the bay of Elaea part of the Bay of Adramyttium, but incorrectly. He has the story, which Stephanus has taken from him, that Elaea was a settlement made by Menestheus and the Athenians with him, who joined the war against Troy; but Strabo does not explain how it could be an Aeolian city, if this story was true. Elaea minted coins, which bear the head and name of Menestheus. Some argue that these are some evidence of its Athenian origin; but others, including William Smith discount the connection. Herodotus (i. 149) does not name Elaea among the Aeolian cities. Strabo makes the bay of Elaea terminate on one side in a point called Hydra, and on the other in a promontory Harmatus; and he estimates the width between these points at 80 stadia. Thucydides (viii. 101) places Harmatus opposite to Methymna, from which, and the rest of the narrative, it is clear that he fixes Harmatus in a different place from Strabo. The exact site of Elaea seems to be uncertain. William Martin Leake, in his map, fixes it at a place marked Kliseli, on the road from the south to Pergamum. Scylax (p. 35), Pomponius Mela (i. 18), Pliny (v. 32), and Ptolemy (v. 2), all of whom mention Elaea, do not help us to the precise place; all we learn from them is, that the Caicus flowed between Pitane and Elaea. The name of Elaea occurs in the history of the kings of Pergamum. According to Strabo, from Livy (xxxv. 13), travellers who would reach Pergamum from the sea, would land at Elaea. One of the passages of Livy shows that there was a small hill (tumulus) near Elaea, and that the town was in a plain and walled. Elaea was damaged by an earthquake in the reign of Trajan, at the same time that Pitane suffered. Excerpts taken from Head, Hist. Numorum, and Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
Price: 45 USD
Location: Seattle, Washington
End Time: 2024-11-22T18:24:04.000Z
Shipping Cost: 3 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Composition: Bronze
Historical Period: Greek (450 BC-100 AD)
Era: Ancient
