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

S4
Metal
M Size
6
M 4-
M 2i
Weight
172-3
N 2-n 29-6
INSULAR GREECE.
Neptune, naked, adv., standing before horse to r. ; in right hand, trident ; left
holding bridle. R. jf joixa "^ ^^'^ ^'°^^ ' between, head of trident ; all in quad.
incus.
Note.—A specimen of this coin from the Devonshire Collection, published by ChishuU (Ant. As.
p. 14C), has the same legend PATKIOIN. It was a Cretan form of the genitive plural, as appears from
a coin of Cnossus (v. supra).
Horse's head to r. ; round it, PAYK[I]QN, in dotted circle, li. Trident ; dolphin ;
gh quad, incus, as countermark.
RHITHYMNA Cretse.
Note.— Rhithymna is now 'Pidvitvoc, which the Italians have converted into Retime ; it is one of
the chief fortresses of Crete, and of more importance than it appears to have been anciently.
Head of Pallas to r. IJ. [P]ieY. between two dolphins, in circle of dots.
RHODUS.
Note.—In the time of Homer, three cities divided the island of Rhodus between them ; namely,
and Cameirus :
Lindus, lalysus,
Oi 'Poiow afujiciiiiiovTo iid rpix" icoir/ii/Olvrtc,
Aivlov, 'ItiXvaaov ri, xai dpyiv6tvTa ILdfjitipov.-
-II. B. 655.
Tpix9a ^i ifKijOtv KaTa(t>v\aS6v.—Ih. 668.
These cities flourished during several centuries, but at length coalesced in founding a new city,
which they called the city of the Rbodii, at the northern extremity of the island, one of the most
favoi"able positions in the Mediterranean for commerce and naval influence. Strabo informs us, that
the event occurred Kara rd JliXovovvriaiaKd, but it must have been forty or fifty years earlier, if
what he adds is true, that the same architect ( Hippodamus of Miletus), who was employed in the
construction of Rhodus, built the Peirasus of Athens, — for this event occurred about 475 B.C. The
extant coins of this island are perfectly conformable to its history. According to Strabo, the three
ancient cities ceased to be autonomous after the foundation of Rhodus, irporcpot> Ka9' airoic iiro-
XiTeiiovTO .... iiird ravra avvip\.9ov iiiravTfg ilg ti)v 'Polov (p. 654). Coius accordingly of the
three cities are of archaic fabric and of extreme rai-ity ; while none of those of Rhodus have the
appearance of being earlier than the fifth century b. c.
Radiate head of Apollo to r.
all in circle of dots.
R. Flower; above, [AA]M0KPATH2; below, PO;
Note.—Whether this flower was meant for the rose, or for the flower of the pomegranate, in Greek
paXavsTtov, has been much disputed ; the latter seems the more likely— 1. Because poiov is derived
apparently from pod, which in the diminutive form potSwv, is still the Greek word for pomegranate.
2. Because the pomegranate was a sacred fruit, as appears from many ancient coins ; that the
flower partook of this sanctity, we may presume from the blossom having had a name separately
from the fruit. In all probability poSov was applied in common parlance to any beautiful flower
until, in process of time, cultivation had produced roses with sixty petals, and remarkable for
their fragrance. Herodotus, who describes them (8, 138), seems clearly to have alluded to ouP
garden-rose. It has been remarked, that the Rhodian type bears no very faithful resemblance to
either flower ; admitting this, we may easily conceive that on the coins a design, originatmg m a
time of imperfect art, was followed without any change, except that of an improved execution, and
became conventional, like the ideal heads of the deities, and of many natural objects which on coins
are more elegant and expressive than rigidly truthful.