Numismata hellenica: a catalogue of Greek coins; with notes, a map ...

Metal Size Weight
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
n
8
6-5
H
216-3
227-4
25-2
ASIATIC GREECE. 109
SEBASTE Cilicise.
Note.—The remains of Sebaste of Ciliciaat Ayash have been described bySir F.Beanfort(Karamania,
p. 249). This city was founded or augmented by Archelaus, king of Cappadocia, when in possession
of the opposite island Elteusa (Strabo, p. 671), which is now a promontory. Hence Archelaus styles
himself on his coins, *IA0nATPI2 KTI2TH2 (tide Kings and Dynasts, p. 47). The name Sebaste
was in honour of Augustus, who had added all Cilicia Tracheia, except Seleuceia, to the kingdom of
Archelaus.
Diadumenianus.
, . . . M. on, ANTO. AIAAOY Head of Diadumenianus to r.
B. CeBAC. (AYTON.) NAYAPX. 6AeY0. Victory stepping to I.
SEBASTOPOLIS Ponti.
Note.— Until Paphlagonia, Galatia, and Pontug are more thoroughly known, there will be great
difficulty in fixing the site of Sebastopolis. It seems not to have been known to Strabo, though it
appears, from a route in the Antonine Itinerary, to have stood at a distance of not more than fifty
miles from his native city Amasia, on the road from Tavium (Boghaz Kini) to Sebastia (Sivas), nearer
to the latter. Sebastopolis, therefore, if it existed in the time of Strabo, had then some other name.
Head of Bacchus to r. IJ. ceBAGTOnOAeiTiiN. Serpent issuing
from cista to r.
SELEUCEIA Syria sive in Pieria,
Nate.— According to Appian (Syr. 57) there were nine Seleucise. The names of most, if not all of
them, may be collected from history or coins. They were, 1, ad Orontem ; 2, ad Pyramum ; 3, ad
Calycadnum ; 4, ad Euphratem ; 5, ad Tigrira ; 6, ad Hedyphontem ; 7, ad Belum ; 8, Seleuceia of
Pisidia, which was colonized by Claudius, and thenceforth called TUXavSioaiKivKfia (Strabo, p. 744,
749 ; Plin. H. N. 6, 27 ; Stephan. in SeXeu«ia ; Ptolem. 5, 6 ; Hierocl. p. G73). Pliny (5, 4)
names also a Seleuceia in Galatia.
Seleuceia ad Orontem, the port of Antioch, now Moghiir, near Suedieh, retains many vestiges of
its ancient impoi'tance. In particular, the harbour itself, although now separated from the sea by
the effects of alluvion and maritime currents, preserves its ancient works, connected with which is a
channel cut through the rocks, apparently for the purpose of diverting from the ancient town and
port those torrents from Mount Casius, which, left to nature, have had the effect of converting the
harbour into a marsh.
Veiled and turreted female head to r. R. SEAEYKEiiN THS IEPA2 KAI AYTO-
NOMOY in four lines. Fulmen placed horizontally on an ornamented table ;
below which, BI (year 12) ; the whole in a wreath.
Note.—The date relates probably to the autonomy of Seleuceia. The fulmen was worshipped as
having guided Seleucus to the site when he founded the city.