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

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32 INSULAR GREECE.<br />

Metal Size Weight<br />

M<br />

M 7+<br />

M<br />

61<br />

170-6<br />

immediately opposite to Aivali, on the coast <strong>of</strong> ^olis, from which the island is separated at either<br />

end by a narrow and shallow strait. Poroselene, according to Strabo, did not stand upon this island<br />

but upon a smaller, answering to that now called Pyrgo, from a tower on its highest point. Poro-<br />

selene still subsisted as a bishoprick in the seventh century (Hieroct. p. C86). The larger island<br />

according to Strabo, had a homonymous city, which was in ruins in his time, <strong>with</strong> the exception <strong>of</strong><br />

a temple <strong>of</strong> Apollo ; this was perhaps the one ^olic city in the Hecatonnesi alluded to by Herodotus.<br />

But neither <strong>of</strong> the authors has recorded its name.<br />

Young male head to ?., the hair entwined in a narrow diadem. R. nOPAOSIA.<br />

in two lines ; between which, lyre <strong>with</strong> circular body.— Electrotype from the<br />

B.M.<br />

Septimius Severus.<br />

AYT. KAI. A. CEOT. ceOYHPON ne(pn.'ora). Head <strong>of</strong> Septimius Severus to r.<br />

R. F.ni CTP. lOYAlOY CYN*OPOY. Hygieia and Asclepius opposed. Hygieia,<br />

feeding serpent ; Asclepius, leaning <strong>with</strong> right hand on staff entwined <strong>with</strong><br />

serpent ; below, in two Hnes, nOP02EAENHTON.<br />

PRtESUS Creta;.<br />

Note.—The situation <strong>of</strong> Prtesus is well defined by Strabo as having been in the eastern<br />

peninsula <strong>of</strong> Crete, near Mount Dicte, and distant sixty stades from the northern shore between<br />

Samonium and Chersonesus. An inscription copied by Mr. Pasliley, at the Plu monastery, places<br />

its territory <strong>with</strong> equal correctness between those <strong>of</strong> Itanus and Hierapytna ; and here accordingly<br />

are found remains <strong>of</strong> the ancient city at a place named Presfis, accented like npattr<strong>of</strong> , on the last<br />

syllable. Preslis is about six miles distant from the northern shore at Setia, not far from which<br />

are some remains <strong>of</strong> Eteia. With such a degree <strong>of</strong> certainty as to the site <strong>of</strong> Proesus, there can be<br />

no question that there is a textual error in p. 478 <strong>of</strong> Strabo, where he appears to say, that Prcesus<br />

was situated at 180 stades from Gortys, and that its territory bordered upon that <strong>of</strong> Leben, places<br />

which are more than sixty geographical miles in direct distance from the true position <strong>of</strong> Prsesus.<br />

In the time <strong>of</strong> Strabo Praesus was in ruins, having been destroyed by the Hierapytnii.<br />

Head <strong>of</strong> Apollo to I. R. PPAI5I. Anterior portion <strong>of</strong> Cretan wild-goat, recumbent<br />

to I., head turned to r. ; in field to r., arrow-head,— all in dotted circle.— £kc-<br />

trotype/rom the Pembroke Collection,<br />

PRIANSUS Cretffi.<br />

Note.— Although Priansus is scarcely named in ancient history, its <strong>coins</strong> and inscriptions (ChishuU,<br />

Antiq. Asiat. pp. 122, 129) show that it was among the leading cities <strong>of</strong> Crete. Such beiug the fact,<br />

it is inconceivable that Strabo, who was so well acquainted <strong>with</strong> Crete, and has left us so much<br />

information on its ancient geography, should have made no mention <strong>of</strong> Priansus. We need scarcely<br />

hesitate therefore to make the following correction in page 478 <strong>of</strong> his text : '£ic di A«/3^i'o£ yv Aiv-<br />

KOKOfiac Ti Kai o Ipaarrji aiiTov lEvlvv9tros, oSf iaropil 6«o0pa(Troc tv Tif Trfpi 'Epwr<strong>of</strong> \6yif tivai<br />

£i Totv dOXwVy (ov 6 AevKOK<strong>of</strong>iac ri^ Ev^vv6ir({t Trp<strong>of</strong>ftraKtv iva, ^rjfftf Tovrov, tov iv Dpaiffy {legi<br />

npidj/(T((j) Kvva avayayiiv aiiTif- o/>opoi S' tiatv avroXg ol Ilpaiffioi {lege npia^ffioi) riys fiiv OaXaTTtjc<br />

iKilKOVTa (TTaliovg, Topruvijc Si SiixovTic iKarbv Kal b-/Sor)KOVTa.<br />

Eipijrai i' (vide p. 475) on tUv 'EreoicpTrwi' vviff^iv j) Upataos Kal ort ivravda to tov AiKraiov<br />

Aioc iepdr, Kal ydp ij AiVri/ TrXijiriov, oix, wf'Apar<strong>of</strong>, " (Txe^ov op«<strong>of</strong> 'I^aiov" Kal yap x'^'""! 'I<br />

AiKTi) Tijs'ldtie aTrex^i, Trp<strong>of</strong> dviaxovTa ijXtov air' aiiTiji Ktifiivi], tov Si Safiiaviov tKaTov, MeraJA<br />

Si TOV ^afiuviov Kal riJQ Xippovijaov, r/ llpalaos 'iSpvTO, irjrtp Trjs BaXaTTJiQ i^riKOVTa oTadiovi;.<br />

We have seen that the position <strong>of</strong> Prsesus, at Pr'esus, agrees in every thing <strong>with</strong> the latter para><br />

graph. Doubtless, therefore, the former related not to another IIPAISOS, but to IIPIAN202, a<br />

word differing little from the former, especially wheu written nPIAISOS, as in Stephanos (in v.),<br />

and which a copier, ignorant <strong>of</strong> the localities, and pretending perhaps to correct the text before<br />

him, may easily have altered to nPAISOS, this name having already occurred in a preceding<br />

piige (475). A situation <strong>of</strong> 180 stades eastward <strong>of</strong> Gortys, and sixty stades from the sea, is perfectly<br />

suited to Priansus— 1. as entering into a treaty <strong>with</strong> Hierapytna (ChishuU, p. 129), which was

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