Philosopher, Poets, Authors, Historians, Astronomers, Etc.

Anakreon the lyric poet

c.570–c.485 B.C., Anakreon was a Greek lyric poet who was born in Teos in Ionia. He lived in Samos as well as Athens, where his patron was Hipparchus. His poetry, graceful and elegant, celebrates the joys of wine and love. Little of his verse survives. Anacreontics, poems in the style of Anacreon, were written from Hellenistic to late Byzantine times.

IONIA, Teos. Circa 300 BC. AR Didrachm (5.99 gm). Griffin and Anakreon playing lyre. (image courtesy of CNG 57)

KINGS OF MACEDON Alexander III ‘the Great’ 336-323 BC AR Tetradrachm (38 mm, 16.00g, 1h) Teos mint, ca. 188-180 BC Obv: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY Zeus seated left, lyric poet Anakreon of Teos (ca 575-490 BC), on chair, playing chelys; monogram of ΠY Ref: Price 2313-2314 (differing monograms). An apparently unpublished var. Price notes that this is the last issue of Teos, struck in the years after the Treaty of Apameia between the Romans and Antiochos III (Author's collection)

IONIA, Teos. 2nd-3rd cent AD. AE 20, 4.31g. Anacreon, playing lyre held on knee. BMC 59 (image courtesy of "Jochen" Forum discussion board)

IONIA. Teos. Valerian II (Caesar, 256-258). Ae 19mm 4.53g Anacreon playing lyre. Reverse: THIWN E-I-WNWN, Anacreon seated right, playing lyre held on knee. Reference: SNG Copenhagen 1536 (Author's collection)

Archilochus

Archilochus was a Greek lyric poet from the island of Paros in the Archaic period. He is celebrated for his versatile and innovative use of poetic meters and as the earliest known Greek author to compose poems based largely on his own emotional experiences.

CYCLADES, Paros. ca. 1st century BC. Æ 18mm

Arion the poet

Arion was a kithara player who attended a musical competition in Sicily, where he was victorious. On his return journey the sailors on Arion's ship planned to murder him and steal the rich prizes he had won. Arion was given the choices of suicide with proper burial on land, or being thrown into the deep. Playing his kithara to win time, Arion sang praise to Apollo, and his song attracted a number of dolphins to the ship. Thereupon, Arion cast himself into the sea, and was rescued by one of the dolphins and carried to land at the sanctuary of Poseidon at Cape Tainaron

Arion was a Greek poet and musician of Methymna in Lesbos. He is said to have invented the dithyramb (choral poem or chant performed at the festival of Dionysus); that is, he gave it literary form. None of his works survive, and only one story about his life is known (reported by the historian Herodotus]).

KINGS OF MACEDON, Alexander III ‘the Great’ Methymna on Lesbos, circa 215-200 BC AR Tetradrachm 35 mm, 16.84 g, 12h Obv: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right; to left, the poet Arion riding a dolphin to right, holding kithara. Ref: Price 1691 (see Herodotos 1.24) (Author's collection)

Euboea, Chalkis Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD Æ 28.5mm., 17.44g. Obv: AY K Λ CE -CEYH POC P Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev: XAL - KI - D - EΩN Arion seated r. on dolphin; between two columns, in l. arm holding Kithara. Picard Emission 103, 1 and Pl. XXIV, 103 (this coin). Unique. ex Schulman New York sale, 6-11 June 1969, 800 and ex. Lanz e sale 111, 2002, 301. From the collection of T.O.Mabbott coll. "A unique coin of considerable iconographical and architectural interest" (Picard, p. 133) - Author's collection

Lesbos, Methymna Circa 330-240 BC Æ14mm, 2.75g, 1h Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right / Arion astride dolphin to right, holding kithara; M-[A]-Θ-[Y] around. Unpublished in the standard references ex. Roma 70 (formerly Author's collection)

Lesbos, Methymna Circa 330-240 BC Æ14mm Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right / Arion astride dolphin to right, holding kithara; M-[A]-Θ-[Y] around. Unpublished in the standard references (formerly Author's collection)

Bias

​Bias (living in the 6th century BC) was from Priene (Ionia). He is considered as one of the seven sages of Greece renowned for his probity and prudence. Heraclitus praised Bias over and above contemporary greats such as Hesiod and Pythagoras. 

IONIA, Priene Pseudo-autonomous 2nd-3rd century AD Ae 17mm, 4.62g Obv: BIAC. Bust of the philosopher Bias right, with slight drapery. Rev: ΠPIHNEΩN. Mên standing left, holding pine cone and sceptre. Ref: RPC IV 2414 (8 specimens); Regling 185. (Author's collection)

Chrysippus the philosopher

Greek School - Statue of Chrysippus (ca 280-207 B.C.) the Greek philosopher

Chrysippus of Soli was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was a native of Soli, Cilicia, but moved to Athens as a young man, where he became a pupil of Cleanthes in the Stoic school. Chrysippus lived from 279 BC – c. 206 B.C. When Cleanthes died, around 230 BC, Chrysippus became the third head of the school. A prolific writer, Chrysippus expanded the fundamental doctrines of Zeno of Citium, the founder of the school, which earned him the title of Second Founder of Stoicism. Chrysippus excelled in logic, the theory of knowledge, ethics and physics. He created an original system of propositional logic in order to better understand the workings of the universe and role of humanity within it. Ethics, he taught, depended on understanding the nature of the universe, and he taught a therapy of extirpating the unruly passions which depress and crush the soul. He initiated the success of Stoicism as one of the most influential philosophical movements for centuries in the Greek and Roman world.

CILICIA, Soloi-Pompeiopolis. Pseudo-autonomous issue, CY 229 = 163/4. [ΘKΣ] Æ 25.5mm, 8.0g Obv: Head of the philosopher Chrysippos (?) to right, holding his hand up before his chin. Rev. ΠOMΠHEIOΠOΛEITΩN Draped bust of the astronomer Aratos (?) to right, looking upwards. Ref: SNG von Aulock 8712 (Author's collection)

CILICIA. Soloi-Pompeiopolis. Circa 3rd quarter of the 2nd Century, likely during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Assarion (21 mm, 6.13 g, 1 h). the philosopher Chrysippos. Unpublished (image courtesy of Nomos)

CILICIA, Pompeiopolis Philip I the Arab (244-249 AD) Dated CY 311 (245/6). Æ 31mm, 16.41g Heptassarion. Obv: ΑVΤ Κ ΙΟV ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC ΕV CEΒ. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip right. Rev: ΠΟΜΠΗΙΟΠΟΛ ΙΑΤ / S. Bust of Chrysippus the philosopher right. Ref: SNG France 1254; SNG Levante 895 Numismatic Naumann 89 (Author's collection)

CILICIA, Pompeiopolis Philip I the Arab (244-249 AD) Dated CY 311 (245/6). Æ 31mm, 12.14g Heptassarion. Obv: ΑVΤ Κ ΙΟV ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC ΕV CEΒ. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip right. Rev: ΠΟΜΠΗΙΟΠΟΛ ΙΑΤ / S. Bust of Chrysippus the philosopher right. Ref: SNG France 1254; SNG Levante 895 (Author's collection)

CILICIA, Soli-Pompeiopolis, Philip I, 244-249 A.D. Æ 32 mm 14.27g Bust of Philosopher Chrysippos (or Astronomer Aratos). Lindgren & Kovacs 1605 (Author's collection)

Demos patterned from Aratos or Chrysippos

PISIDIA, Isinda Trajan Decius 249-251 A.D. Æ 36mm 26.18g Obv: Bust of emperor Philosopher “Demos”; grabbing beard ΓΑ ΜƐ ΚΥ ΤΡΑ ΔƐΚΙOCƐΥ Rev: Bust of Philosopher “Demos” also identified as Chryssipos or Aratos, ΙϹΙΝΔƐΩΝ, ΔΗΜΟϹ Ref: SNG von Aulock 890; RPC 996 (image courtesy of Kunker)

Cicero (minor)

Marcus Tullius Cicero Minor  or Cicero the Younger was born in 64 B.C.. He was the son of Marcus Tullius Cicero (the distinguished orator and consular senator) considered one of the leading figures of the Roman Republic during the 1st century B.C.

LYDIA, Magnesia ad Sipylum. M. Tullius Cicero Minor. Late 1st century BC. Æ 23mm (5.55 g, 12h). Theodoros, magistrate. Struck after 30 BC. Bare head of Cicero Minor right / Right hand holding wreath, grain ears, and vine branch with grape bunch. RPC 2448; FITA 385; Stumpf 142; Klose & Stumpf 106 (image courtesy of CNG)

Eukleides the philosopher

Eukleides of Megara; the founder of the Megarian School of Philosophy; he was a student of Socrates and essentially believed that the most important aspect of the “real world” was the moral character of the individual. In order to be able to attend Socrates’ lectures, at a time when Megarians were forbidden entrance to Athens under pain of death, Eukleides disguised himself by wearing female dress, and this is how he is shown here. One must assume, however, that the Athenian guards must have been rather easily fooled, as on the coin, the portrait of Eukleides shows him with a beard! The reverse shows the famous statue of Artemis Soteira by Strongylion (LIMC II, 417-419 and 448-449).

MEGARIS, Megara Pseudo-autonomous isuue Æ 25 mm, 9.81g; circa 54-96 AD. Obv: Veiled and bearded portrait of the philosopher Eukleides to right, wearing earring, dressed as a woman; ΜΕΓΑΡΕΩΝ Rev: Artemis Phosphoros adv. right Ref: BCD Peloponnesos 41; BMC 43 = NCP, A I = Richter 576; RPC III, 408 (this coin imaged) (Author's collection)

Herodotus the father of History

Author with Herodotus in Athens Areopagus hill museum (ca. 4th cent. BC)

Herodotus was an ancient Greek historian who was born in Halicarnassus, Caria (modern day Bodrum, Turkey) and lived in the 5th century BC (ca. 484 BC – c. 425 BC). He has been called the "Father of History", and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a well-constructed and vivid narrative. The Histories, his masterpiece and the only work he is known to have produced—is a record of his "inquiry".

CARIA, Halicarnassus. Trajan 98-117 AD. 22mm, 5.97g, 6h Obverse: Head of Emperor Trajan, TPAIANOC… Reverse: Head of Herodotus, ALIKAPNACCEWN HPO[DOTOC], Reference: unpublished (Author's collection) - see RPC III 2152

CARIA, Halicarnassus Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ 24mm, 7.00g Obv: AYTO KAI NЄP BAC TPAIANOC ΓЄ ΔA, laureate head of Trajan right Rev: HPOΔOTOC AΛIKAPNACЄΩN, APCЄM/IA, draped bust of Herodotus right. Ref: RPC III 2152 Extremely rare (1 of 2 known) (formerly Author's collection)

CARIA, Halicarnassus. 21mm 5.90g Antoninus Pius 138-161 AD. Herodotos. RPC 3148. "Lar's Pscipio" Forum coins board

CARIA, Halicarnassus. Gordian III. 238-244 AD. 19mm 5.60g Laureate bust of Gordian; Bust of Herodotus. RPC 601 (image courtesy of CNG)

Contorniate, Herodotus type, Rome, ca. half IV - V century AD, AE 37mm, 23.30g. Charioteer with horse. Unpublished (image courtesy of Art Coins Roma)

Homer

Homer's ancestry can be traced from Odyssey. He was the son of Epikaste and Telemachus. Born around 8th - 9th century B.C. he was said to be a court singer and a story teller. When we think of the blind poet Homer with relation to Ancient Greece, the first thing that comes to our mind is his beautiful epic poems Iliad and Odyssey.

IONIA, Smyrna. Circa 220-190 BC. Drachm (19 mm, 4.21 g, 12 h). Homer seated to left,, holding scroll, hand on scepter. (image courtesy of Nomos)

IONIA, Smyrna AR Drachm, 2nd century BC 22mm, 4.00g Apollonios, magistrate. Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right. Rev: ΣΜΥΡΝΑΙΩΝ / ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΙOΣ. Homer, holding sceptre and resting chin upon hand, seated left on plinth. Ref: Milne, Silver Coinage 31. (Author's collection)

PAPHLAGONIA, Amastris. Pseudo-autonomous issue. temp. Antoninus Pius – Commodus, AD 138-192. Æ Triassarion(?) (22mm, 6.80 g, 6h). Draped bust of Homer right, wearing taenia / Nike standing left, holding wreath and palm frond. RPC Online 4903; RG 42; SNG von Aulock 159 (image courtesy of CNG)

PAPHLAGONIA, Amastris. 2nd Century AD. Æ 21mm (5.84 gm). Draped bust of poet Homer right, wearing taenia / River-god Meles reclining left on rock outcropping, holding lyre and reed. SNG Stancomb 1053; cf. SNG Copenhagen 251 (image courtesy of CNG)

PAPHLAGONIA, Amastris. 2nd Century AD. 21mm Head of Homer and river-god. Copenhagen 251 (image courtesy of CNG)

PAPHLAGONIA, Amastris. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Circa 3rd Century AD. Æ 3 Assaria 22mm. Bust of Homer, Hades-Serapis seated. (image courtesy of CNG)

PAPHLAGONIA, Amastris Anonymous ca. 2nd cent AD Æ 24mm, 10.47g, 7h Obv: [OMH]-POC, bust of Homer right, wearing tainia; uncertain c/m on shoulder t Rev: AMA-[C]TP-IANΩ[N], Uncertain figure standing left, holding scepter and sacrificing with patera over lighted altar to left Ref: Unpublished (formerly Author's collection)

PAPHLAGONIA, Amastris. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Time of the Antonines, AD 138-192. Æ (21mm, 6.63 g, 6h). OMHPOC, draped bust of Homer right, wearing taenea / Turreted, veiled, and draped bust of Tyche right. RG 50 (image courtesy of CNG)

BITHYNIA, Nicaea. Commodus 193-211 AD. 18mm 3.52g Head of Homer (Author's collection)

IONIA, Smyrna. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Circa 2nd-3rd Century AD. Æ 22mm (6.04 g). Homer seated right, holding scroll / CMYP/NAI/WN in three lines within wreath. Klose Type XII, 2 (V2/R2); SNG Copenhagen 1307; SNG von Aulock 2189 (same dies); McClean 8291 (image courtesy of the Bill Hearn collection)

Aeolis, Temnus. 3rd cent. AD. AE 19. 4.26g Zeus Akraios, Homer seated with scroll. SNG Munich 617 (formerly Author's collection)

BITHYNIA, Nicaea. Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ (24mm, 7.93 g, 8h). Homer seated left, holding scroll. RG 285 (image courtesy of CNG)

IONIA. Kolophon. Otacilia Severa (Augusta 244-249). AE 29mm 10.91g Homer seated. SNG Copenhagen 196; Milne, Kolophon 238c (image courtesy of Pecunum)

IONIA, Kolophon. Volusian 251 - 253 AD AE 27mm (9.28g). Obv: AΥT K Γ OΥIB OΥOΛOΥΣIANOΣ, draped u. armored bust with laurel wreath right Rev .: EΠI ΣTΡ AΥΡ AΘ-HNAI KOΛOΦΩNIΩN, half-naked Homer sitting on a chair to the right. Holding a scroll in the extended left. SNG Copenhagen; BMC 59 Plate VIII, 15; SNG Aulock - (Author's collection)

IONIA, Colophon 190-30 B.C. Apollo with lyre; Homer seated. (Author's collection)

IONIA, Smyrna Ca. 1st cent. B.C. - 1st cent A.D. Æ 20mm, 7.83g Magistrate Apollonius und Magas Obv: Head of Apollo r. Rev: Homer seated; holding book, resting chin on hand mint marks; [….ΖΜΥΡΝΑΙΩ……] Ref: Milne 82, 274 (Author's collection)

Anaxagoras the Astronomy-Mathematician

Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (a major Greek city of Ionian Asia Minor), a Greek philosopher of the 5th century B.C.E. (born ca. 500–480), was the first of the Presocratic philosophers to live in Athens. He propounded a physical theory of “everything-in-everything,” and claimed that nous (intellect or mind) was the motive cause of the cosmos. He was the first to give a correct explanation of eclipses, and was both famous and notorious for his scientific theories, including the claims that the sun is a mass of red-hot metal, that the moon is earthy, and that the stars are fiery stones. Anaxagoras maintained that the original state of the cosmos was a mixture of all its ingredients (the basic realities of his system).

IONIA, Klazomenai. Circa 190-30 BC. 20mm, 7.24g. Anaxagoras seated left on globe, right hand raised. SNG München 506; SNG Copenhagen 107 (Author's collection - previously from the J.S. Wagner Collection)

IONIA, Klazomenai. Pseudo-autonomous issue ca. 190-30 BC. Æ 17mm, 3.12g Obv: ΚΛΑΖΟΜΕΝH, draped and turreted bust of Tyche right Rev: ΚΛΑΖΟΜΕΝΙΩΝ, the philosopher Anaxagoras standing right; left feet set on rock, holding globe and scroll. Ref: SNG Copenhagen 113. (Author's collection)

Aratus (Aratos) the philosopher and astronomer

Bust of Aratus (ca. 310 B.C. - 240 B.C.)

Born at Soli (Pompeiopolis) and a contemporary of the Helleistic poets Callimachus and Theocritus, Aratus was a disciple of the Peripatetic philosopher Praxiphanes and was acquainted with several important scholars, including the Stoic philosopher Zeno, as well as Callimachus, and Menedemus, the founder of the Eretrian School of philosophy. In 276 BC, he was invited to the court of the Macedonian king Antigonus II Gonatas, to compose a poem on that king’s victory over the Gauls the previous year. His most famous poem and major extant work, Phaenomena ("Appearances"), describes the constellations and other celestial phenomena, as well as weather lore. Aratus subsequently spent time at the court of Antiochus I Soter of Syria, but later returned to Pella in Macedon, where he died about 240 BC.

CILICIA. Soli-Pompeiopolis 3rd cent Pb 20 seal 13.59g Busts of Aratos Poet Astronomer and Chrysippos Stoic philosopher (image courtesy of Frank Kovacs)

CILICIA, Soli Pompeiopolis. Caracalla 193-211 A.D. AE 32mm Bust of Aratos Poet Astronomer. SNG BN 1238 (Author's collection)

CILICIA, Soli Pompeiopolis. Caracalla 193-211 AD AE 34mm 19.57g Aratos the poet SNG France 1238 (image courtesy of Roma)

CILICIA, Pompeiopolis Geta 209-211 AD Æ 27.4mm, 10.70g Obv: Bare-headed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Geta right Rev: Bare-headed and draped bust of Aratus right, gazing upwards. Ref: A.A. Boyce, “The Foundation Year of Pompeiopolis,” in Hommages à Marcel Renard (Brussels, 1969), pl. XXXIV, 9 = BMC 61; see CNG 79 lot 629 for similar (Author's collection)

CILICIA, Pompeiopolis Gordian III 238-244 AD Æ Hexassarion. 33mm, 18.74g Dated CY 306 (AD 240/1). Obv: Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; gorgoneion on breastplate Rev: Bareheaded and draped bust of Philosopher Aratus right Ref: SNG BN 1250; RPC VII.2 Online 2338; Ziegler 594 (Author's collection)

CILICIA, Soli-Pompeiopolis. Gordian III 238-244 AD. Dated RY 306 (140-141 AD) Æ 6 Assaria 32mm, Bust of Aratos - Poet and Astronomer. SNG Paris 1250, Ziegler 594 (Author's collection)

Heraclitus the philosopher

Heraclitus lived in Ephesus, an important city on the Ionian coast of Asia Minor, not far from Miletus, the birthplace of philosophy. Heraclitus criticizes the mythographers Homer and Hesiod, as well as the philosophers Pythagoras and Xenophanes and the historian Hecataeus. All of these figures flourished in the 6th century B.C. or earlier, suggesting a date for Heraclitus in the late 6th century.

IONIA. Ephesos. Diadumenian (217-218). AE 21mm Obv: OΠ ΔIAΔOVMENIANOC K. Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: EΦECIΩN HPAKΛEITOC. Herakleitos standing left with club. Karwiese, Ephesos V, 627 (Author's collection)

IONIA, Ephesus. Severus Alexander 222-235 AD. 22mm Reverse: EΦECIΩN HPAKΛEITOC, around philosopher Heraclitus (the obscure) stg. l. holding club and raising r. hand.

IONIA, Ephesus. Philip I 244-249 ADl AE22mm 5.44g Obv: AVT K M IOVL PHILIPPOC (partial) around his laureate bust r.; Rev: HRAKLEITO C EPHECIWN around philosopher Heraclitus (the obscure) stg. l. holding club and raising r. hand. SNG Copenhagen 485 (formerly Author's collection)

Hipparchus the Astronomer

Hipparchus was born in Nicaea in Bithynia (ca. 190 B.C.), but spent much of his life in Rhodes. He is generally considered to be one of the most influential astronomers of antiquity, yet very little information available about him survives; his only extant work is his commentary on the astronomical poem of Aratus (third century B.C.). The Almagest, written by Ptolemy (second century A.D.) is the source of most of our knowledge about Hipparchus, who Ptolemy considered to be his most important predecessor. In his own astronomical work, Ptolemy made extensive use of the work of Hipparchus, building on the foundation laid by him. Ptolemy described Hipparchus as 'industrious' and, repeatedly, as a great 'lover of truth'. That Hipparchus continued to be held in high regard is demonstrated by the various depictions of him on frontispieces of astronomical works published long after his death. Hipparchus' many important and lasting contributions to astronomy included practical and well as theoretical innovations. He employed geometrical models, including the deferent-epicycle and eccentric previously used by Apollonius (flourished ca. 200 B.C.). One of his contributions appears to have been the incorporation of numerical data based on observations into the geometrical models developed to account for the astronomical motions; some have even credited Hipparchus with the founding of trigonometry.

BITHYNIA, Nicaea. Antoninus Pius 138-160 A.D. 26mm Hipparchus (astronomer) seated next to globe on column. (image courtesy of Gerhard Rohde)

BITHYNIA, Nicaea. Marcus Aurelius 161-180 AD 23mm, 12h Obv: Μ ΑVΡΗΛΙΟϹ ΟVΗΡ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ; bare-headed bust of Marcus Aurelius draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: IΠΠΑΡΧΟϹ ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ, Hipparchus the astronomer seated on basis, left, wearing himation over lower limbs; globe on small column left. Ref: RPC VI Online 3183 (temporary for Sev Alex) Unpublished for Marcus Aurelius (Author's collection)

BITHYNIA, Nicaea. Commodus 180-192 AD 25 mm, 9.42g, 7 h). Obv: Μ ΑVΡΗΛΙΟϹ ΟVΗΡ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ; bare-headed bust of Commodus draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: IΠΠΑΡΧΟϹ ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ, Hipparchus the astronomer seated on basis, left, wearing himation over lower limbs; globe on small column left. Ref: RPC IV.1 5545 (Author's collection)

BITHYNIA, Nicaea. Severus Alexander 222-235 AD 6.40g, 22mm, 12h Obv: Μ ΑΥΡ ϹΕΥ ΑΛΕZΑΝΔΡΟϹ ΑΥ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ IΠΠΑΡΧΟϹ, Hipparchus the astronomer seated on basis, left, wearing himation over lower limbs; globe on small column left. Ref: RPC VI Online 3183 (temporary) var in legend; Waddington 608 Roma 59, lot #677 (Author's collection)

BITHYNIA, Nicaea. Julia Mamaea 222-235 AD. Rev: ΝΙΚΑΙΕIΝ IΠΠΑΡΧΟϹ, Hipparchus the astronomer seated on basis, left, wearing himation over lower limbs; globe on small column left. Ref: unpublished? (formerly Author's collection)

BITHYNIA, Nicaea. Valerian I, 253-260 AD. AE 24mm 6.53g Hipparchos the Astronomer SNG vAulock 717. (image courtesy of Frank Kovacs)

Bithynia, Nikaia, Gallienus, D 253-268 AE 25, 5.40g Obv.: Γ ΠOVB ΛIK EΓN ΓAΛΛHNOC AVΓ Bust, draped and cuirassed, seen from behind, radiate, r. c/m H in circular incus (Howgego 821e) Rev.: NIK - A - IEWN in ex. IΠΠAPX (ΠAP ligate) The astronomer Hipparchos of Nikaia, in himation, seated l., holding in extended r. hand globe over cippus Ref.: SNG von Aulock 7097 var.; not in Rec. Gen.; obv.: same die as SNG von Aulock 7090; Rec.Gen. 828 (image courtesy of "Jochen")

Bithynia, Nicaea Gallienus, 260-268 A.D., Æ 25mm., 7.66g. Hipparchus the Astronomer seated l.; globe on pedestal to l. Unpublished; SNG von Aulock 717 (for Valerian) image courtesy of Naville; formerly Author's collection

Pythagoras the Mathematician

Pythagoras of Samos (Greek marble - 5th cent B.C.)

Pythagoras was an Ionian Greek philosopher, mathematician, and founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism. Most of the information about Pythagoras was written down centuries after he lived, so very little reliable information is known about him. He was born on the island of Samos and it is believed that he traveled widely in his youth, visiting Egypt and other places seeking knowledge. It was said that he was the first man to call himself a philosopher, or lover of wisdom.

THRACE, Abdera Stater (14.11 g). 415 - 395 B.C. Griffin on obverse and image of the philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras on the reverse. (image courtesy of Gorny & Mosch)

IONIA, Samos. Trajan Decius 253-260 AD. 29mm 10.22g Pythagoras with globe( RPC museum collection)

IONIA, Samos. Etruscilla 253-260 AD. 30mm Pythagoras with globe. (Author's collection)

Hippokrates (Hippocrates)

Hippocrates of Kos (460-370 BC) was a Greek physician considered to be the "father of medicine". Little is known of his medical skills but much is believed about his revolutionary reasoning strategies and the use of observation in diagnosis and prediction in prognosis. Most know his namesake for having left behind what is referred to as the Hippocratic Oath or a profession to "do no harm" when treating patients.

Islands of Caria, Kos. Pseudo-autonomous issue, time of Antoninus Pius (138-161). Æ 15 mm. 2.9 gm. Obv: Hippokrates the Physician, ΙΠ Rev: Aesklepion staff with serpent, ΚΩΙΩΝ Ref: RPC IV.2, 886 (on-line); BMC 215, F. Burchner, ZfN 9 (1882), pp 124-5 (Author's collection)

Sappho the Poetess

Sappho fresco (ca. 612 BC - 510 BC)

One of the great Greek lyrists and few known female poets of the ancient world, Sappho was born some time between 630 and 612 BC. She was an aristocrat who married a prosperous merchant, and she had a daughter named Cleis. Her wealth afforded her with the opportunity to live her life as she chose, and she chose to spend it studying the arts on the isle of Lesbos. Sappho was called a lyrist because, as was the custom of the time, she wrote her poems to be performed with the accompaniment of a lyre. Sappho composed her own music and refined the prevailing lyric meter to a point that it is now known as sapphic meter.

LESBOS, Mytilene Trihemiobol (Circa 440-400 BC) 9mm, 0.97g Obv: Diademed head of Sappho?, facing slightly left Rev: MVTI Head of roaring lion left in incuse square. Ref: BMC 1-2; HGC 6, 1038 (formerly Author's collection)

LESBOS, Mytilene. Julia Procula. Circa 150-200 AD. Æ 27mm (10.05 gm, 7h). Apollonidas, magistrate. ΙΟΥ ΠΡΟΚΥ ΛΑΝ ΗΡΩΙΔΑ, draped bust of Julia Procula right, hair coiled on top of head / ΕΠΙ ΣΤΠΑ ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΙ, ΜΥΤΙ, Sappho seated right on low stool, playing lyre. BMC Troas pg. 200, 165; SNG Hunterian 1313 (image courtesy of CNG)

LESBOS, Mytilene. Julia Procula. Circa 150-200 AD. Æ 21mm. Draped bust of Julia Procula right, hair coiled on top of head; Sappho seated right on low stool, playing lyre. BMC Troas pg. 200, 165; SNG Hunterian 1313 (source of image unknown)

LESBOS, Mytilene. Julia Procula. Circa 150-200 AD. Æ 28mm. Draped bust of Julia Procula right, hair coiled on top of head; Sappho standing, lyre resting on column. BMC Troas pg. 200 var, 165; SNG Hunterian 1313 var. (source of image unknown)

LESBOS, Mytilene. Electrum 10mm 2.49g Head of Muse, possibly Sappho. (image courtesy of Pecunum)

LESBOS, Mytilene. 14 mm, Head of Muse, possibly Sappho. (image courtesy of Munzen und Medaillon)

Tisias or Stesichoros the Lyricist

Stesichorus (632-556 BC), the founder of the Greek choral lyric poetry, was born in Himera. This city was destroyed in 408 BC by the Carthaginians; the surviving inhabitants were permitted to settle in the neighborhood and called their new home town Thermae Himerenses. Stesichorus's proper name was Teisias, "Stesichoros" being a nickname referring to his profession, namely master of choirs.

SILICY, Thermai. ca. 252 BC. Tisias or Stesichoros. 22mm 10.73g. BMC 9; Calciati I S. 120, 18,1 (Author's collection)

Sicily. Himera. Early 4th century BC. Hexas, 2.34g. Poet Stesichoros and Boar, (image courtesy of Gorny & Mosch)

Orpheus the lyric poet

Orpheus, the son of the Thracian king Oeagrus and the Muse Kalliope, was a master poet, proficient on the lyre, and possessing a melodious voice surpassed by no other mortal. He mesmerized gods and mortals alike with his song. His musical powers were so intense that the birds and animals, even trees and stones, were charmed and drew near to hear his voice. Orpheus married the nymph Eurydike, but their life together was cut short by the bite of a snake that sent Eurydike from the land of the living to the shadowy kingdom of the underworld. Distraught over the death of his beloved, Orpheus descended into the land of shades and made his way to the very throne of Hades and his queen Persephone. His music was so enticing that all the inhabitants of the underworld were entranced, and the King of Darkness granted Orpheus' request to return Eurydike to the light of day provided he dare not look back at her until they both had cleared the gates of Hades. The temptation was too great, though, and Orpheus turned to gaze upon Eurydike for the last time before her spirit sped back to the underworld. Totally disheartened by his second loss, Orpheus shunned all women and sang his songs in the company of Thracian men, who became distracted from their womenfolk. Outraged, the Thracian women ultimately fell on Orpheus and killed him. Severing his head from his body, they cast it into the Hebrus River, where it floated on his lyre, still singing, out to sea. Finally, Orpheus' head drifted to Lesbos, where it was enshrined by the nymphs.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. 138-161 AD. Æ Drachm. (28.60 gm). Year 5 (=141/142 AD). [AVT K] T AIL AÐP ANTWNEINOC CVECB (sic), laureate head right / Orpheus charming the animals: L E, Orpheus seated right on rock, playing lyre, charming numerous wild animals around. Köln -; cf. Dattari 2996 (image courtesy of Triton)

THRACE, Philippopolis. Geta. AD 209-211. Æ (30mm, 15.52 g, 6h). Orpheus seated right on rocks, playing lyre; animals around. Varbanov 1642 (image courtesy of CNG; from the Bill Hearn collection)

THRACE, Phillipopolis Geta 197-211 A.D. AE 30mm 17,06g Orpheus with his Lyre. (image courtesy of Gorny & Mosch)

CILICIA, Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Gordian III. 238-244 AD. Æ 33mm 16.87g. Eurydice, wife of Orpheus pursued by Hermes. (image courtesy of CNG)

EGYPT, Alexandria. Pb Tessera token (20mm) Orpheus with harp and animals. (Author's collection)

Roman mosaic depicting Orpheus