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

MeUl
JE
M
Size
4+
M 5
5 +
M
M
M M
M
7i
Weight
134-2
137-2
243-8
127-1
121-2
103
9-3
9-8
SICILY AND ADJACENT ISLANDS.
Turreted female head to r. ^.. Diana Venatrix adv. ; right hand resting on
hasta ; in left, ? ; in field to r., crescent ; below which, dog, leaping to r. ; in
field to I., ErESTAmN.
Turreted female head to r. (Rome?) B. EFESTAION. ^neias, stepping to I.,
bearing Anehises on his shoulders, and in his right hand the palladium ?— Electrotype
from the B. M.
Note.— In Roman times the Segestans favoured the mythus which made them, " cognati populi
Romani," namely, that which attributed the foundation or renovation of their city to vEneias,
in whose honour there was a temple at Segesta (Dionys. Hal. 1, 53). According to Virgil, Anehises
died at Drepanum (^n. 3, v. 708).
SELINUS.
NoU.— StXivot;!; {"S.iKivohq) was colonized from Megara Hyblsea 100 years after the foundation of
the latter, which occurred about 728 B.C. The acropolis of Seliuus occupied a maritime height on the
left or eastern side of the mouth of a river which had already received from the Greek settlers in
Sicania the name Selinus, from the abundance of apiura or wild celery growing near its banks. On the
eastern side of the acropolis flows another stream, anciently named Hypsas, which issues from some
copious sources a few miles distant. In the acropolis stood three hexastyle temples, and an iediculum
on a ; height rising from the left bank of the Hypsas, were three other similar buildings, one of
which was not exceeded in magnitude by any Greek temple of which the ruins exist. A single
half column is all that now remains standing of these astonishing works all the ; rest form masses
of ruins, giving sufficient evidence of their present state having been the result of some unrecorded
earthquake, of which the still erect temples of Egesta and Acragas show this spot to have been the
centre. In the year 409 B.C. Selinus was taken and destroyed by the Carthaginians, and though
partially restored, seems never to have flourished after this disaster. All its extant works of art,
therefore, are productions of the fifth and sixth centuries B.C.
Trilobate leaf. B.. Six triangular incuses forming a square.
Same type. flL. Similar leaf, in quad, incus. ; in the two upper angles of which, -j J.
Note.—There is a great resemblance in the early coins of Selinus and Himera, and in both the
types refer to the names. That of Selinus was the leaf of the wild celery (apium graveolens), the
iXioa'iKivov of Dioscorides, which formed the crown of the Nemean and Isthmian games ; that of
Himera was the cock, as the symbol of the dawn (ij/iepa). — Vide supra, p. 58.
Two females, in biga, to ?., the farther discharging an arrow, the nearer holding
reins with both hands; around, from r. to I., SEAINONTION. B. SEAIN05.
Naked figure, to I. ; in right hand, patera, held over altar, at foot of which,
cock to I. ; in left hand, branch ; in field to r., leaf of selinum ; below which,
bull to I. on pedestal (the river-god Selinus sacrificing to Asclepius) .
Bull, running to r., seized by the horn by left hand of naked figure to /. ; in his
uplifted right hand, club; around, SEAINONTION. B. Naked figure, adv.,
towards I. ; in right hand, patera, held over an altar entwined by serpent ; in
left hand, branch ; in field to r., leaf of selinum ; below which, stork to r. ;
round the head of the figure, HY*AS (the river-god Hypsas sacrificing to
Asclepius).
Another similar.
Female, in light drapery, seated on rock to I., attacked by serpent ; right hand,
with arm at full length, holding serpent ; left arm raised over head drawing
down veil ; in field above, leaf of selinum. R. Andromorphous bull (river
Selinus) to r. ; above, SEAINOEC ; below, river-fish to r.
Another similar.
Another similar ; but female's left hand on her breast. B. Same type ; around,
5EAIN0NTI0N ; in field to r., leaf of selinum.
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