Description:
This bronze coin was minted in the ancient city of Kibyra, in the Hellenistic region of Phrygia, which was located in modern-day south-west Turkey. Stories of the heroic age of Greek mythology tell of the Phrygian King Midas, who turned whatever he touched to gold and according to Homer's Iliad, the Phrygians participated in the Trojan War as close allies of the Trojans.
In 333 BC, Alexander the Great and his Greek army liberated this area from the Persians. Thereafter, Kibyra prospered greatly and the city was celebrated for its superior iron products. The city maintained its independence until 84 BC, when Kibyra became under control of the Romans and was added to the Roman province of Asia.
Athena is featured on this ancient coin wearing a high-crested Corinthian helmet. She was the Greek goddess of wisdom, peace, warfare, strategy, handicrafts and reason. Among her gifts to man were the inventions of the plow and the flute, the arts of taming animals, building ships as well as making shoes. An armed warrior goddess, Athena appears in Greek mythology as a helper of many heroes, including Odysseus, Jason and Hercules. On the reverse side of this coin, an eagle is shown standing on a club. The eagle was a sign of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods.
