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

Metal Size Weight
JR
M
M
M
M
M
4+
3i
89-2
175-2
14-9
EUROPEAN GREECE, 168
Note.—The dress and attitude of the slinger on this coin is the same as on coins of Aspendus in
Pamphylia. On a coin of the ^nianes the slinger is naked, with the chlamys round his arm, and thus
also Mionnet describes the slinger on a coin of Antiocheia Carite. These three are the only published
coins on which slingers are represented. The present coin proves that there was a town Othrys on
the mountain of that name. It stood probably at Gura, which is now the largest town on the mountain,
and is situated on the north-western side, at the sources of the Enipeus. The reverse, compared with
that of the coin of the jEnianes, and considered together with the reputation of the Acarnanians for
their skill as slingers (Thucyd. 2, 81), leads to the belief, that the great range of mountains which
stretch across Greece, from the Pagascean to the Ambracic Gulf, was the chief school in European
Greece for this kind of Greek light infantry. It was natural that these secluded countries should have
been some of the latest to adopt improvements in armour; for with the exception of the stone of the
Xi0o/3o\o£, the sling of the afiviovriTr]^ must have been the earliest of offensive weapons. Accord-
ing to Ovid, Cseneus the Argonaut dwelt in Othrys.
" Csenea Perrhsebum, qui factis inclytus Othryn
Incoluit" (Metam. 12, v. 173).
PHAESALUS Phthiotidis.
(j, A
Head of Pallas to r. B. r -.. Horseman, with causia and chlamys, to r.
PHENEUS ArcadijB.
Head of Ceres to /•. B. APKAS; in
larger letters, * EN E. Hermes, stepping to ?. ;
in right hand, caduceus ; on left arm, chlamys, upon which is seated the infant
Areas holding out his hand to Hermes, who turns his head to Areas.
Note.—The name APKAS being placed near the child in the arms of Hermes leaves no doubt as
to the subject of this reverse. Areas was said to have been the son of Jupiter by Callisto, who was
converted into a bear by Juuo, and slain by the arrows of Diana, when the infant was saved by
Jupiter, and conveyed to a place of safety by his minister, Hermes. That this subject should be found
on the coins of Pheneus is not surprising, as Hermes was said to have been bom in the neighbouring
mountain Cyllene, and Pheneus was the capital of Arcadia in the time of its kings, of whom Areas was
the most renowned.— Homer, Od. 8, v. 335, &e. Hymn, in Merc. 1. Pausan. 8, IC.
PHINTIAS Siciliffi.
Head of Diana to I. R. BASIAEas *1NTIA, in two lines ; between, boar to I.
PINCUM Moesiffi Superioris.
Hadrianus.
HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P. P. Head of Hadrian to r. fll. AELIANA PINCENSIA
(metalla), in two lines, in wreath.
Note.—T\ie position of Pincum is no less uncertain than that of the city, where the coins of the
Dardanian mines were struck,
POSIDONIA.
Neptune, launching trident to r,; in field to r., MOT ; to ?,, leaf and berry, R, Bull
to I.; above, [M]o[a] ; below, grain of barley.
Same type. B. nOMEI . . Bull, butting to I.; below, sepia,
[Tt]