A Ptolemaic context from Hellenistic Patara
Remarks on amphora stamps and coins
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30549/opathrom-17-10Keywords:
amphora stamp, coin, Macedonian Kingdom, Patara, Ptolemaic Kingdom, RhodesAbstract
Archaeological investigation at Patara, on the south-western coast of Türkiye, has generated new data concerning the city’s status under Ptolemaic rule in the 3rd century BC. In this study, we focus on a Hellenistic context found at the Tepecik Settlement dating from the period of Ptolemaic hegemony. A Rhodian amphora bearing a stamp on each handle and four coins found in situ enable us to date this context to the first half of the 3rd century BC. The amphora, which was produced in the Rhodian Peraia, slightly further north-west along the Turkish coast, records the eponym Χρυσόστρατος (c. 266 BC) and fabricant Ἀστός. The pairing of these two persons is here clearly confirmed for the first time. The four coins found in the same context include a bronze Macedonian regal coin, two ancient counterfeit silver-plated bronze coins (one recording the name of Alexander the Great and the other recording the name of Ptolemy I Soter), and a genuine Rhodian silver coin carrying the name of the magistrate Ἀριστόβιος. The Rhodian amphora stamps lend further precision to the dating of this context and coins. Thus, we suggest the period c. 275–265/264 BC for the dating of the Rhodian silver coin and the tenure of the Rhodian magistrate Ἀριστόβιος.
Downloads
References
AmphorAlex = J.-Y. Empereur, ed. Centre Alexandrin d’Étude des Amphores, http://www.amphoralex.org/
Anderson-Stojanović, V.R. 1997. ‘A third-century BC deposit from the South Slope Cistern in the Rachi settlement, Isthmia’, in Δ′ Επιστημονική Συνάντηση για την Ελληνιστική Κεραμική, Μυτιλήνη 1994, Πρακτικά, Athens, 13–19.
Ashton, R.H.J. 2001. ‘The coinage of Rhodes 408–c. 190 BC’, in Money and its uses in the ancient Greek world, eds A. Meadows & K. Shipton, Oxford, 79–115. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199240128.003.0007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199240128.003.0007
Badoud, N. 2015. Le temps de Rhodes. Une chronologie des inscriptions de la cité fondée sur l’étude de ses institutions (Vestigia. Beiträge zur alten Geschichte 63), Munich.
Campbell, W. 1933. Greek and Roman plated coins (Numismatic Notes and Monographs 57), New York.
Cankardeş-Şenol, G. 2015a. Lexicon of eponym dies on Rhodian amphora stamps vol. 1. Eponyms A (Études Alexandrines 33), Alexandria.
Cankardeş-Şenol, G. 2015b. ‘ASTOS: A wine amphora producer in the Rhodian Peraia’, in Olive oil and wine production in Eastern Mediterranean during antiquity, eds A. Diler, A.K. Şenol & Ü. Aydinoğlu, Izmir, 233–241.
Cankardeş-Şenol, G. 2017. Lexicon of eponym dies on Rhodian amphora stamps vol. 4, Eponyms T–X (Études Alexandrines 39), Alexandria.
Cankardeş-Şenol, G. forthcoming. Lexicon of producer dies on Rhodian amphora stamps vol. 1, Alexandria.
CH I–X = The Royal Numismatic Society 1975–2010. Coin hoards vols 1–10, London. https://numismatics.org.uk/society-publications-2/special-publications-and-coin-hoards/
CPE = Lorber, C.C. 2018. Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire part 1. Ptolemy I through Ptolemy IV. Vol. 1. Precious metal. Vol. 2. Bronze, New York. https://doi.org/10.1484/m.ns-eb.5.136323 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1484/M.NS-EB.5.136323
Doğer, E. 1994. ‘Rodoslu çömlekçi Hieroteles’, Arkeoloji Dergisi 2, 195–218.
Doğer, E. & A.K. Şenol 1996. ‘Rhodos Peraiası’nda iki yeni amphora atölyesi’, Arkeoloji Dergisi 4, 59–73.
Dündar, E. 2017. Transport jars and stamped amphoras from Patara, 7th to 1st centuries BC. The maritime trade of a harbor city in Lycia (Patara Excavations Publication Series 4:3), Istanbul.
Dündar, E. 2019. ‘An early witness of the urban settlement: Tepecik’, in Patara. City, harbor, cult, ed. H. Işkan, Istanbul, 138–152.
Dündar, E. 2020a. ‘Tepecik’, in H. İşkan, ‘Patara 2018 kazı ve restorasyon çalışmaları’, Kazı Sonuçları Toplantısı 41:2, 397–400.
Dündar, E. 2020b. ‘Late 4th century BC pottery assemblages from Patara. First considerations on ceramic classes of the Xanthos valley in Lycia’, IstMitt 70, 47–71.
Dündar, E. 2023. ‘A Ptolemaic stamped amphora from Patara: Some notes on stamp attribution and its likely implications’, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 109, 31–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/03075133231181411 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/03075133231181411
Dündar, E. & M. Koçak 2021. ‘Patara’s harbour. New evidence and indications with an overview of the sequence of harbour-related defence systems’, in Under the Mediterranean vol. 1. Studies in maritime archaeology, eds S. Demesticha & L. Blue, Leiden, 127–146.
Dündar, E. & D.S. Lenger 2022. ‘A Ptolemaic hoard from Patara’, AJA 126:2, 201–217. https://doi.org/10.1086/718334 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/718334
Dündar, E. & N.K. Rauh 2017. ‘The North Bastion on the Tepecik Acropolis at Patara. Dating “Early Hellenistic” fortification walls in southwestern Anatolia’, Hesperia 86:3, 509–581. https://doi.org/10.2972/hesperia.86.3.0509 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2972/hesperia.86.3.0509
EH I = T. Faucher, A. Meadows & C.C. Lorber 2017. Egyptian hoards vol. 1. The Ptolemies, (Bibliothèque d’Étude 168), Cairo.
Emmons, B. 1954. ‘The overstruck coinage of Ptolemy I’, ANSMN 6, 69–84.
Empereur, J.-Y. & N. Tuna 1989. ‘Hiérotélès, Potier Rhodien de la Pérée’, BCH 119, 277–299. https://doi.org/10.3406/bch.1989.4722 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3406/bch.1989.4722
Faucher, T. 2017. ‘Coin minting techniques in Ptolemaic Egypt: Observe, analyze, recreate’, Notae Numismaticae 12, 71–90. https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43282.8
Finkielsztejn, G. 2001. Chronologie détaillée et révisée des éponymes amphoriques rhodiens, de 270 à 108 av. J.-C. environ (BAR-IS 990), Oxford. https://doi.org/10.30861/9781841712758 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30861/9781841712758
Godsay, M. 2017. The Ptolemies and the 3rd century B.C.E. ceramic assemblage, M.A. thesis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Grace, V.R. 1963. ‘Notes on amphoras from the Koroni peninsula’, Hesperia 32, 319–334. https://doi.org/10.2307/147082 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/147082
Grace, V.R. 1966. ‘Stamped amphora handles—The Benachi Collection’, Archaeology 19:4, 86–88.
Grainger, J.D. 2022. The Ptolemies. Rise of a dynasty, Barnsley & Philadelphia.
HNO = K. Konuk, ed., Historia Numorum Online http://hno.huma-num.fr
Hölbl, G. 2001. A history of the Ptolemaic Empire, Abingdon & New York.
IGCH = M. Thompson, O. Mørkholm & C.M. Kraay, eds 1973. An inventory of Greek coin hoards, New York.
Jenkins, G.K. 1960. ‘An early Ptolemaic hoard from Phacous’, ANSMN 9, 17–37.
Keyser, P.T. 1995–1996. ‘Greco-Roman alchemy and coins of imitation silver’, AJN 7–8, 209–234.
La Niece, S. 1993. ‘Technology of silver-plated coin forgeries’, in Metallurgy in numismatics vol. 3, eds M.M. Archibald & M.R. Cowell, London, 227–239.
LAGM II = W. Leschhorn 2009. Lexikon der Aufschriften auf griechischen Münzen vol. 2. Ethnika und “Beamtennamen”, Vienna.
Lawall, M. 2015. ‘The transport amphoras at Koroni: Contribution to the historical narrative and economic history of the Early Hellenistic Aegean’, in Cities called Athens: Studies honoring John McK. Camp II, eds K.F. Daly & L.A. Riccardi, Lewisburg & Lanham, Maryland, 197–229. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5771/9781611486186-197
Le Rider, G. & F. De Callataÿ 2006. Les Séleucides et les Ptolémées: L’héritage monétaire et financier d’Alexandre le Grand, Paris.
Lenger, D.S. & E. Dündar 2020. ‘Attestation of a Ptolemaic garrison in the light of coins: Tepecik Settlement at Patara, Lycia’, AIIN 66, 37–70.
Lorber, C.C. 2005. ‘A revised chronology for the coinage of Ptolemy I’, NC 165, 45–64.
Lorber, C.C. 2012. ‘Egyptian hoards relating to the abandonment of the Attic standard by Ptolemy I’, in I ritrovamenti monetali e i processi storico-economici nel mondon antico (Numismatica Padavina 12), eds M. Asolati & G. Gorini, Padua, 33–47.
Lorber, C.C. 2018. ‘The currency reforms and character of Ptolemy I Soter’, in Ptolemy I Soter. A self-made man, ed. T. Howe, Oxford, 60–87. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv13pk80g.11 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv13pk80g.11
Maiuri, A. 1925–1926. ‘Nuovi supplementi al “Corpus” delle iscrizioni di Rodi’, Annuario 8–9, 313–322.
Meydancıkkale = Davesne, A. & G. Le Rider 1989. Gülnar II. Le tresor de Meydancıkkale (Cilicie Trachee, 1980) vols 1–2, Paris.
Mørkholm, O. 1980. ‘Cyrene and Ptolemy I: Some numismatic comments’, Chiron 10, 145–159.
Mørkholm, O. 2000. Erken Hellenistik Çağ sikkeleri: Büyük İskender. Tahta çıkışından Apameia Barışı’na kadar (İ.Ö. 336–188), transl. O. Tekin, Istanbul.
Münsterberg, R. 1985. Die Beamtennamen auf den griechischen Münzen: Geographisch und alphabetisch geordnet (Subsidia Epigraphica 3), Hildesheim, Zurich & New York.
Özüdoğru, Ş. 2002. Patara Sikke Basımları ve Patara Kazılarından (1988–2000) Ele Geçen Sikkeler, M.A. thesis, Akdeniz University.
Picard, O. & T. Faucher 2012. ‘Les monnaies lagides’, in Les monnaies des fouilles du Centre d’Études Alexandrines: Les monnayages de bronze à Alexandrie de a conquête d’Alexandre à l’Égypte moderne (Études Alexandrines 25), eds O. Picard, C. Bresc, T. Faucher, G. Gorre, M.C. Marcellesi & C. Morrisson, Alexandria, 17–108.
Price, M.J. 1991. The coinage in the name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaeus vols 1–2, Zurich & London.
Psoma, S. 2009. ‘Τὰς σιταρχίας καὶ τοὺς μισθοὺς ([Arist.], Oec. 1351b) Bronze currencies and cash-allowances in Mainland Greece, Thrace and the Kingdom of Macedonia’, RBN 155, 3–38.
Rauh, N.K., C. Autret & J. Lund 2013. ‘Amphora design and marketing in antiquity’, in Kauf, Konsum und Markte, Wirtschaftswelten im Fokus—Von der römischen Antike bis zur Gegenwart (Philippika: Marburger Altertumskundliche Abhandlungen 59), ed. M. Frass, Wiesbaden, 145–181.
Robinson, E.S.G. 1941. ‘Coin standards of Ptolemy I’, in Social and economic history of the Hellenistic world, ed. M.I. Rostovtzeff, Oxford, 1635–1639.
Rotroff, S.I. 2006. Hellenistic pottery: The plain wares (The Athenian Agora 33), Princeton.
Seibert, J. 1976. ‘Die Schlacht bei Ephesos’, Historia 25, 45–61.
Şenol, A.K. 1995. Knidos Amphoralarında (İ.Ö. 3. yüzyıl) Monogram Mühürler, M.A. thesis, Ege University.
Şenol, A.K. 2015. ‘New evidences on the amphora production in the Rhodian Peraea during the Early Hellenistic period’, in Recent studies on the archaeology of Anatolia (BAR-IS 2750), eds E. Lafli & S. Pataci, Oxford, 193–201.
Şenol, A.K. & E. Aşkın 2007. ‘Amphoralar ışığında kentin ticari ilişkileri’, in Dağlık Kilikia’da bir antik kent kazısının sonuçları, Nagidos (Adalya Suppl. 6), ed. S. Durugonul, Istanbul, 241–297.
Şenol, A.K. & S. Waltz 2010. ‘Reconstruction and context analysis of a Hellenistic press installation in the survey territory of Bybassos on the Carian Chersonesos’, in Antik Çağda Anadolu’da Zeytinyağı ve Şarap Üretimi, Uluslararası Sempozyum Bildirileri 06–08 Kasım 2008, Mersin, Türkiye, eds Ü. Aydinoğlu & A.K. Şenol, Istanbul, 185–197.
SNG Keckman = Westermark, U. & R. Ashton 1994.
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Finland, The Erkki Keckman Collection in the Skopbank, Helsinki part 1. Karia, Helsinki.
Stanzl, G. 2015. ‘Das Ptolemaion von Limyra’, in L’architecture monumentale grecque au IIIe siècle a.C., ed. J. de Courtils, Bordeaux, 175–196.
Stanzl, G. 2017. ‘Werkspuren und Bautechnik am Ptolemaion von Limyra Eine ostlykische “Bauhütte” im Dienst der Ptolemäer?’, in Werkspuren. Materialverarbeitung und handwerkliches Wissen im antiken Bauwesen. Internationales Kolloquium in Berlin vom 13.–16. Mai 2015, eds D. Kurapkat & U. Wulf-Rheidt, Regensburg, 209–226.
Svoronos, I.N. 1904–1908. Τἀ νομίσματα τοῦ κράτους τῶν Πτολεμαίων, transl. C.C. Lorber, Athens.
Tatar, Ö. 2016. İzmir Arkeoloji Müzesi’nde bulunan III. Aleksandros ve III. Philippos dönemine atfedilen Makedon Krali bronz sikkeleri, M.A. thesis, Akdeniz University.
Tatar, Ö. 2022. Nümismatik veriler ışığında Lykia Bölgesi’nde Ptolemaios egemenliği, Ph.D. thesis, Akdeniz University.
Vanderpool, E., J.R. McCredie & A. Steinberg 1962. ‘Koroni: A Ptolemaic camp on the east coast of Attica’, Hesperia 31, 26–61. https://doi.org/10.2307/147256 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/147256
Zervos, O.H. 1967. ‘The early tetradrachms of Ptolemy I’, ANSMN 13, 1–16.
Zervos, O.H. 1974. The Alexander mint of Egypt, Ph.D. thesis, New York University.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome, and the authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Volumes 16–18 (2023–2025): All text is published with immediate open access under the Creative Commons license CC BY 4.0. All images are used with permission from the rights holders, credited in the captions, and explicitly excluded from the CC BY license.
Copyright: Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome, and the authors.
Volumes 1–15 (2008–2022): These issues were made openly available as PDFs six months after the printed edition was published. No Creative Commons license applies to these volumes.
Copyright: Swedish Institutes at Athens and Rome, and the authors.
