LE SYMPOSIUM INTERNATIONAL LE LIVRE. LA ROUMANIE. L ...

446 ELPIDA KOSMIDOU
the horseman on coins of Alexander remains a matter of dispute. limits
of space here discourage a thorough discussion about his identification as a
hunter or a cavalryman. 33 yet, some points, especially regarding associations
with Bisaltic coin types, deserve mention. hoard evidence argues against
any Bisaltic influences, offering solid grounds for down-dating the
commencement of the Bisaltic coinage to after the persian retreat. 34 If the
dates for both coinages are correct, the Bisaltai and Alexander had access
to the same mines and minted parallel types at the same time, a case similar
to that of the helmet series as well as to the exchanged lettering between
coins of the edones and Alexander and their joint use of mines or mints.
An analysis of the weaponry has shown that much can be added to
the subject of structure and use of arms. For example, more precise
schemes emerge for the petasos. representations of spears can also be
shown to conform to the dates, types and uses of actual pieces. however,
no conclusion can be drawn about the identity of the horseman upon
the evidence of typology and weapon configuration. there are also no
significant differences other than stylistic with the equipment represented
on Bisaltic coins. If similar features in the coinages of Alexander and the
Bisaltai show common sources of influence, which I take here to be the
use of common weaponry, then different features may accordingly reflect
different prototypes. the attire and posture of Alexander’s horsemen are
indeed different from Bisaltic parallels, and tripodi is correct in seeing in
the former no royal attributes and a more hellenic-Athenian than northern
profile. 35
If one dismisses any royal connotations or associations with the “rhesus”
device of Bisaltic coins, raymond’s initial indecision in identifying the
horsemen as hunters or warriors would seem difficult to overcome. there are
several questions involved, but at this point at least one must be asked: why
would Alexander choose to depict hunters on a range of denominations in a
period of Macedonian expansion, which had undoubtedly relied on cavalry
since the infantry was weak? 36 the association of horsemen on the obverse
33 on the horseman type with particular reference to arms and armour see my phD
thesis.
34 prICe and WAGGoner 1975, 28-9,38-9,117-9.
35 preStIAnI GIAlloMBArDo and trIpoDI 1996, 319-26.
36 on the prominence of the cavalry as opposed to the ill-trained and ineffective
native infantry, which was reinforced with hoplites from Greek colonies see Spence
1993, 164-5,176-7; BorzA 1990, 125-6; hAMMonD and GrIFFIth 1979, 114,117.
Whether Alexander I or successive kings were responsible for introducing and organising
the corps of pezhetairoi and etairoi still remains to be decided. on the relevant account of
Anaximenes and the early Macedonian army in general see further noGuerA Borel