Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Type 55: Eros Flees from Psyche

Eros flees from Psyche, after she has discovered his identity. Only one city, Nicomedia in Bithynia, placed this motif on its coins.

* Nicomedia in Bithynia, coins of Maximus Caesar (not illustrated) on which Eros is shown fleeing l., while Psyche, kneeling l., tries to restrain him.

* On Italian local coinages of the Roman Republic, Eros is represented as bound to a pillar and awaiting punishment for his mistreatment of Psyche (Stannard, series 35a-c). There are also gemstones that must have served as amulets: showing Eros bound to a column inscribed ΔIKAIΩC (justly), [they] are magical and are meant to punish the object of the unrequited love (Schwartz, Engraved gems).  


CATALOGUE

Nicomedia / Maximus Caesar
Reference: RPC VI, 3477*
Rarity: RR

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