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

Metal
M
M
M
Size
4
Weight
M 257-5
KINGS OF SYRIA.
Same head to r. R. BASIAEQS AAESANAPoy. Two cornuacopiae crossed, each
with a pendent fillet ; in field to /. S ; to r. A.
Portrait of Alexander II. to r., covered with the lion's scalp, as Hercules, or Alexander
the Great. R. BA2IAEQS AAESANAPoY. Victory standing to I. ; in
right hand wreath ; in left hand palm branch ; in field I. men. 10 ; below
which is an acrostolium.
Head of Bacchus to L, bound with ivy, and with berries in front. R. BASIAEQS
AAESANAPoY. Winged female standing to I., in her right hand a rudder,
her left resting on a twisted column, and holding a cornucopiaj, from which
springs a tree ; in field I. mon. 73.— (Serrated coin).
CLEOPATRA.
Daughter of Ptolemy VI. (Philometor) ; wife of Alexander Balas, of Demetrius II.,
and of Antiochus VII. ; reigned alone in the year b.c. 125.
Portrait of Cleopatra to r., the hair hanging in formal ringlets before, and formed into
a knot behind, which is covered by the veil. Between the forehead and the veil a
diadem, sphendone,
and ear of corn. R. BASIAISSHS KAEonATPAS GEAS
EYETHPIA2. Double cornucopise full of fruits, and with pendent fillets ; below,
in? (year 187). {Electrotype frmn Lord NorthmcFs Collection.)
Note.—The head-dress of Cleopatra combines the royal symbols with those of Isis or the
Egyptian Demeter, to which character the epithet ivcTtipia and the cornucopiee (the usual type
of the Egyptian queens) also refer. Cleopatra was given in marriage by her father Ptolemceus
VI. (Philometor) to Alexander Balas, when Philometor supported the cause of that usurper.
After the attempt made by Balas to assassinate Philometor at Acca, she was transferred as a
wife to his rival Demetrius II. Philometor then marched through Syria, toolc Antioch, and
defeated Balas on the borders of Syria and Cilicia — an event which put an end to the reign
of Balas, and caused his death, but was fatal also to Ptolemy, who died in consequence of a
fall from his horse in the battle. Cleopatra remained the wife of Demetrius Nicator until,
dm-ing his captivity in Parthia, he married Rhodogune, the king's daughter. She then
espoused Antiochus VII., Sidetes, the brother of Demetrius. After the death of Sidetes
in Parthia, Demetrius retained possession of the kingdom of Syria for about three years, when
he was defeated by Alexander Zabinas, the usurper whom Ptolema;us VII. (Euergetes or
Demetrius into
Physcon) had set up on the death of Sidetes : Cleopatra refused to admit the fugitive
Acca, and thus at least (if not more directly as Appian and Livy assert) was the cause of his being
put to death immediately afterwards at Tyre. From this year, 125 B.C., commenced the renewed
autonomy of Tyre, and an sera, the years of which are numbered on the coins of that city. The next
exploit of Cleopatra was to murder Seleucus, the elder of her two sons by Demetrius, by shooting
him with an arrow, because he pretended to govern alone. She then assumed the sole authority, as
we learn from the present coin, but it lasted only for a few months, as appears by the date 187,
found as well upon this coin as upon another which presents the united portraits of Cleopatra and
Antiochus VIII. (Grypus), her younger son by Demetrius Nicator, who was then about eighteen years
of age. The same date 187 occurs upon coins of Demetrius and of Alexander Zabinas. Ptolemy
VII. (Euergetes or Physcon) found himself under the necessity of acting the same part towards
Antiochus VIII., as his predecessor Philometor had done towards Demetrius II. Physcon had set
up Zabinas against Demetrius, because the latter had taken the part of Cleopatra, sister of Physcon,
against him ; but afterwards becoming disgusted with Zabinas, he changed his policy, supported
Grypus, and gave him his daughter Tryphsena in marriage. By the aid of this alliance Grypus
recovered all Syria from Zabinas, and gained a victory over him near Antioch, in the year b.c. 122,
which led to his capture and execution. Coins are extant with the united heads of Cleopatra and
Grypus of the years 188, 189, 190, and 191. The year 190 or that of his victory over Zabinas, was
the first in which Grypus struck coins in his own name singly, and it seems to have been in the following
year that Cleopatra became so jealous of his authority, that she determined to murder him. But
Grypus had some intimation of her intention, and, when she presented him with a poisoned cup on
his return from exercise, forced her to drink it herself. Such was the end of this wife of three
kings and mother of four— this goddess of beneficence and abundance, as she is entitled on the reverse
of her medal.