#tarsos

[lionofchaeronea]

Daedalus shows Queen Pasiphaë of Crete the wooden heifer he has constructed so that she may have intercourse with the white bull of Poseidon (the union that will produce the Minotaur).  Glazed ceramic relief skyphos from the Anatolian city of Tarsus, artist unknown; last quarter of 1st cent. BCE.  Now in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.  Photo credit: LACMA.

[archaicwonder]

Ancient Coin with the Image of the Persian God Baaltars

This silver stater was struck around 379 to 374 BC under the rule of the Persian satrap Phanabazos II at Tarsos (Tarsus) in Cilicia. The obverse bears the image of Baaltars seated and holding a lotus tipped scepter with ‘BLTRZ’ inscribed behind. The reverse shows a bearded and helmeted male head (possibly Ares) with the inscription  'FRNBZW HLK'.  Stunning natural iridescent toning. Extremely Fine.

Baaltars (combination of "Baal" and "Tarsus") was a deity of the Persian Empire, the Baal or Zeus of the city of Tarsus. His depiction appears on coins of the Persian kings or satraps of Cilicia at Tarsus before Alexander the Great in the 5th and 4th century BC and also on the coins of the early Seleucids.

[lionofchaeronea]

Terracotta head of Heracles with an ivy crown, shown in his capacity as tutelary deity of the city of Tarsus in Cilicia (present-day southern Turkey).  Artist unknown; Hellenistic period.  Now in the Louvre.

[archaicwonder]

Very Rare Ancient Coin with Triform &  Janiform Heads

This is a silver obol from an uncertain mint (perhaps Tarsos, map ) struck circa 400-380 BC. The obverse displays a janiform head. One face is male and the other is a female wearing a diadem (Zeus and Hera?). The reverse shows a triform bearded male head. This is a very rare, charming and extremely fine coin.

The Greek island of Tenedos produced coins with janiform heads similar to the obverse of this coin (example) for centuries, but it is the reverse side that is so unique and fascinating. The bearded triform head has three faces sharing two eyes. It may be a coincidence but it resembles images of the Hindu god Brahma, who has four heads, one facing each of the four cardinal directions. This is believed to be a symbol of his omniscience. There is not another known design like this in classical numismatics.

[twofielder]

Coin of the Day #121 (9/2/2024)

I have a few Roman provincials from this city but this is from the very beginning of its Roman period…

Cilicia

AE20 - 4.96g

164-27 BC

Tarsos Mint

Obverse Bust of Tyche right, veiled, turreted, draped

Reverse TAPΣEΩN

Pyramidal monument on garlanded base with Sandan right on animal, eagle atop, AΣK ΔIO left

[anascreccatravel]

Tarsus / Tarsos

Findings, obtained from the archeological excavations, made in Gözlükule in the southern-east of Tarsus, show that first settlement here dates back Neolithic age. Region is ruled respectively by Hittites by beginning from B.C. 1500, Assyrians in B.C. 1200, Persians in B.C. 546. City enters under the rule of respectively Alexander the Great in B.C. 333, Selecuians after B.C. 323, Cilicia Region is bounded to Roman Empire in B.C. 66, Tarsos also becomes the center of state. Marcus Antonius and Egyptian Queen Cleopatra meet here in B.C. 42. City lives the most prime period in Roman Age. After Roman Empire is divided into two pieces in 395, city maintains its importance. It is exposed to Arabian invasions in 7th Century. City is captured by Seljuks some time at the end of 11th Century, however, city is ruled by Crusaders in 1097. Then, city enter under the rule of respectively Byzantines, Armenians, Memluks and finally Ottomans in 1516. Name of city in the ancient age is Tarsos. Name of Tarsos passes in the sources in B.C. 5th Century for the first time. Name of Tarsus is originated from Tarsos. Furthermore, Saint Paulus, who is one of Jesus’s Apostles and plays an important role for the propagation of Christianity, is from Tarsus. Cleopatra Gate, which is the western enrance gate of the city, and constructed in A.D. 2nd Century and renewed in 6th Century, Pit of Saint Paul, Saint Paul Church, reconstracted in 1862, remains of Roman Temple and Roman Bath, constructed in A.D. 2nd Century, Old Mosque, called Church Mosque, which is constructed as Saint Paul Church in 1102 and turned into the mosque in 1415,Kubat Paşa Madrasah, constructed in 1550, and also Ulu Mosque, Kırkkaşık Bazaar, restored Tarsus Houses under protection, Tarsus Waterfall, flowing over ancient period tombs, Tarsus Museum and Ancient Road, belonging to B.C. 1st Century and Seven Sleepers Cave, in 14km. far from Tarsus are the places, which are required to be visited.

Also you read our Turkey mediterranean ancient cities by link below:

https://anascreccatravel.com/turkey-mediterranean-ancient-cities

Turkey Travel Agency - Anas Crecca Travel

[archaicwonder]

Silver Stater from Tarsos, Cilicia by Datames the Satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia from 384 to 362 BC, struck c. 384-372 BC

The coins shows a female head facing slightly left, wearing a single-pendant earring and necklace. On the reverse,  'TRDMW' in Aramaic, a bearded and helmeted male head (Ares?) right, wearing a crested Athenian helmet.

Datames, the son of Kamisares and a Scythian mother, served as a member of the Persian king's bodyguard before he became satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia upon his father's death in 384 BC. Throughout his early career, he put down a revolt in Lydia, defeated the rebel governor Thyos in Paphlagonia, and briefly occupied the city of Sinope. Because of these successes, the Persian king placed him in charge of the second war against Egypt, along with Pharnabazos and Tithraustes, satrap of Caria. Datames was first, however, detained by a local revolt in Kataonia, a territory within his satrapy. This time, his success incurred the king's jealousy, and he was removed both from his command of the Egyptian expedition as well as the rule of his satrapy. Refusing to relinquish his authority, Datames himself revolted and became a virtually independent ruler. His initial success in this endeavor prompted the revolt of other satraps across the empire. Datames' success, however, was short-lived. Distrust among the satraps disintegrated their rebellion and Datames himself was assassinated by Mithradates, the son of Ariobarzanes, satrap of Phrygia, in 362 BC.

(In antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau in Turkey.)