Description:
This rare bronze coin was minted during the 2nd century in the city of Sala, located in the ancient Greek region of Lydia, which is in present-day Western Turkey. Lydia was bound up with the ancient times of Greece from the beginnings of Greek mythology. The region’s history is rich in Greek culture and tales of battles and conquests. The Lydian capital city of Sardis is where the first coins were minted in the 7th century BC. The expanding Roman Republic gained control of Lydia in 133 BC and it became part of the Roman province of Asia. Sala remained a semi-autonomous city during Roman times and minted their own coinage.
This ancient bronze coin from Sala was hand-struck during the rule of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in AD 161 – 180. The obverse side features Athena wearing a crested Corinthian helmet and aegis. In Greek mythology, Athena was the goddess of wisdom, peace, warfare, strategy and reason. An armed warrior goddess, Athena appears in Greek mythology as a helper of many heroes, including Odysseus, Jason and Hercules. She never consorts with a lover, earning the title Athena Parthenos "Athena the Virgin", hence the name of her most famous temple, the Parthenon, on the Acropolis in Athens.
The reverse side shows Kybele seated on a throne while she is holding a patera and resting her arm on a drum. Kybele was a mother goddess and protector in ancient Greek religion. She was also associated with mountains, city walls, nature and wild animals, especially lions.
