Coin of Gallienus, Emperor of Rome from Temenothyrae

253–68

Temenothyrae was a small town in the uplands of Lydia. Part of its religious life was the pompa (procession) seen here, on which the statue of a cult deity—only partly visible even on the large (41 mm) flan of the coin—was transported, presumably from her temple around the town and back, or perhaps to another destination. The size of the statue meant it had to be supported by guylines, with which the men in the background of the scene are struggling in an effort to keep the statue stable.

Medium: Bronze
Dimensions: 20.85 g, 12:00, 40.6 mm
Credit Line: Ruth Elizabeth White Fund with the assistance of Ben Lee Damsky
Accession Number: 2008.83.133
Geography: Made in Temenothyrae, Phrygia
Culture: Greek
Period: 3rd century
Classification: Numismatics
Disclaimer: Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Numismatics

Obverse Description

Obverse Description: AV KA PO LIKI GALLIHNOC Laureate armored bust right from front, small Medusa head at center of chest, "V" neck in armor.

Reverse Description

Reverse Description: TITIANOC ARXIE-REV; THMENOQV/REVCIN in exergue Six men struggle with ropes to erect a tall ceremonial object in the cart of an ox biga standing left. One man stands at far left and one at far right on the exergal line. Three at left and one at right stand higher up in background. Each of the six has a rope attached to the top of the object, which is decorated with diagonal lines forming a diamond pattern. A rosette is centered in each diamond and a radiate crown is on top.

Provenance

Hans Von Aulock, Berlin, to 1962; Leu, Zurich, May 5, 1977, cat. 18, lot 216; Carlo Fontana, Milan, 1977–1996; Finarte Casa D’Aste, Milan, November 25, 1996. CNG, Lancaster, Pa., December 2–3, 1997, Triton 1, lot 688; Ben Lee Damsky, 1997–2008; Yale Unive

Bibliography

Lisa R. Brody and Gail Hoffman, eds., Roman in the Provinces: Art on the Periphery of Empire (Chestnut Hill, Mass.: McMullen Museum of Art, 2014), 253, plate 32, ill.

Object copyright

No Copyright - United States

Additional information

Object/Work type

coins, money

Technical metadata and APIs

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