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

Metal Size Weight
M
M
M
M
M
6-
4i
4i
ITALY. 113
BARIUM Peucetise.
Note.— Barium, now Bari, was probably, from its advantages of position, and its proximity to
Greece, one of the earliest of the Greek settlements in the south-eastern extremity of Italy.
Head of Jupiter to r. ; behind it, star. B. BAPINilN. Cupid, upon the prow
galley, shooting an arrow to r. ; below, dolphin.
BENEVENTUM Samnii.
Note.—The last letter of the gentile on the coins of Beneventum, although resembling the Latin D,
is equivalent to the Greek Rho, as appears evident from the coins of Larinum, of which the legend
is LADINOD (Larinor).
BENVENTOD (Benventor) ; head of Apollo to I. B. Horse, running to r. ; above,
nOM and pentagon thus, ; ^ below the horse, OHU-
Another.— Electrotype from the B. M.
BRENTESIUM (Brundusium) Calabria;.
Note.— Bptvr^ffiov, in Latin Brundisium, or Brundusium, was the chief city and harbour on the
eastern side of the Japygian peninsula. Its remote Greek antiquity is shewn by the traditions
relating to it. According to one of these, it was founded by a Brentus, son of Hercules ; according
to another, by Minoian Cretans. In the year b. c. 244 it became a Roman colony ; henee the coins,
although many of them Greek in style, have all the Latin legend BRVN.
Head of Neptune to r. ; behind it, small Victory, holding up wreath to r. ; below
which, trident; under the neck, S (semis). IJ. BRVN. Naked male figure
(Arion), on a dolphin to /. ; on his right hand, a Victory, holding up wreath to
r. ; in his left, lyre ; in field to r., S (semis).
Note.—From this type it would seem that, according to the Brundusians, it was from their city,
and not from Tarentum i. (Herodot. 24), that Arion departed on his return to Corinth. The type
and it accords with the
resembles one on a coin of Methymna, of which city Arion was a native,
story, that when obliged by the sailors of his ship, who coveted his wealth, to throw himself into the
sea, Arion was saved, after singing a hymn, by a dolphin sent by Neptune, which landed him at
Teenarus (Lilian, Nat. Anim. 12, 45).
Three others similar.
Same type. B. Naked figure, playing on the lyre, seated on dolphin to r. ; in field
to I., CARB ; below, BRVN ; in field to r., S.
Same type, with trident, and crowned by Victory as before ; below, # • (duo
asses). U. Same legend and type ; below, ^ •.
Same type ; below, • • • (quadrans). B. Same legend and type ; below, • • • .
BRETTII.
Note.—The BpErrioi, or Bruttii, were a semi- barbarous people, occupying the interior of the
south-western extremity of Italy, who made themselves independent of the Lucanians about the year
B.C. 357 (Diodor. )G, 15). In process of time they conquered some of the Greek cities of the
western coast, and at length obtained possession of the whole peninsula within the rivers Laus and
Crathis, with the exception of Croton, Locri, and Bhegium. The Tarentines obtained the assistance
of Alexander, king of Epirus, against the Brettii, who was at first successful, but having lost his life
[«g]
of a