Type 04: Eros as a Bowman

Eros standing r. or l. with his bow drawn and ready to shoot an arrow or actually shooting. 

This type is known from coins of Aphrodisias (Caria), Marcianopolis (Moesia), Parium (Mysia), Prusa ad Olympum (Bithynia), Mastaura and Tralles (Lydia), and Apameia (Phrygia). See also Type 41.

* Marcianopolis in Moesia, coins of Septimius Severus.

Æ 18. Obv. AV  K Λ … CEVHPOC. Laureate head of Septimius Severus r. Rev. MARKIANΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ. Eros standing l., about to shoot an arrow (Photos courtesy of Antike Numismatik Gilles Blançon. Note: The coin unfortunately disappeared, probably stolen by a customer in the shop, after being prepared for inclusion in the dealer’s 2003 sales list).

Æ 16, 7 h, 2.8 g. Similar (Private collection, photos by permission).

* Prusa ad Olympum in Bithynia, coins of Geta Caesar.

Æ 18, 7 h, 3.45 g. Obv. Λ CE[Π] ΓETAC K. Bare head of Geta Caesar r. Rev. ΠΡΟΥCAEΩΝ. Eros standing r., bow raised, about to shoot an arrow.

* Parium in Mysia, coins of Gallienus.

Æ 28, 1 h, 9.38 g. Obv. IMP LICINN GA. Laureate, draped bust of Gallienus r. Rev. C G I H PA.... Eros standing facing, head r., holding a bow in his l. and an arrow in his r.

Æ 27, 1 h, 7.04 g. Similar (identical reverse die).

* Aphrodisias in Caria, c.209-220, obv.: Bust of Boulé.

Æ 20 (half assarion), 7 h, 5.14 g. Obv. IEPA • [BOYΛH]. Bust of  Boulé veiled and draped r. Rev. AΦΡΟΔICIEΩN. Eros standing r., holding his drawn bow at the ready.

* Mastaura in Lydia, coins of the Antonine period or slightly later, with draped bust of Apollo on the obverse (not illustrated).

* Tralles in Lydia, coins of Caracalla (not illustrated).

* Apameia in Phrygia, c.180-268, obv.: Bust of Demos.

Æ 17, 6 h, 2.35 g. Obv. ΔHMOC. Draped and diademed bust of  Demos r. Rev. AΠAMEΩN. Eros standing r., holding his drawn bow at the ready.

 



* Here is a charming uniface lead tessera, probably from Asia Minor (Ephesus?), showing Eros standing r., with drawn bow.

* Here is a tiny (10 mm.) clay seal impression (bulla) showing Eros shooting off an arrow. These bullae were used to seal legal documents, parcels, food and drinking jars, boxes, shops, goods subject to customs duties, tombs, cellars, purses, and so on. They ensured security, and prevented documents, for instance, from getting mixed up. Large numbers have been found in Mesopotamia and northern Syria/Commagene, especially Zeugma (the Gaziantep Museum alone has over 140,000 specimens from Zeugma) and Doliche (the Zeus of Doliche is a recurring type). The genuineness of many specimens offered for sale has been questioned. For other bullae with Eros motifs, see Types 15, 21 and 44.

 

* And here is Eros the bowman on a fragment of terra sigillata pottery, according to the collector's ticket from a canabae legionis, one of the shanty towns that grew up alongside legionary fortresses (in this case, probably Carnuntum).

CATALOGUE

Marcianopolis / Septimius Severus
Reference: Varbanov 736 (but with an erroneous description)
Rarity: RRR

Prusa ad Olympum / Geta Caesar
Reference: Waddington, Recueil général, 110 (but with an erroneous description: Eros is supposedly holding a butterfly)
Rarity: RRR

Parium / Gallienus
Reference: McClean Coll., 7667
Rarity: RR

Aphrodisias / Boulé
Reference: RPC IV, 2, 2158*
Rarity: Common

Mastaura / Apollo
References: RPC IV, 2, 2841*
Rarity: RR

Tralles / Caracalla
Reference: Imhoof-Blumer, Lydische Stadtmünzen, 37
Rarity: RRR

Apameia / Demos
Reference: SNG Copenhagen 201; SNG München 136
Rarity: RR