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Copyright credit: Bucephalus / C. Doyen & E. Pavan
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Copyright credit: Bucephalus / C. Doyen & E. Pavan
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Copyright credit: Bucephalus / C. Doyen & E. Pavan
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Copyright credit: Bucephalus / C. Doyen & E. Pavan
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Copyright credit: Bucephalus / C. Doyen & E. Pavan
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Copyright credit: Auction Bucephalus 2023
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Copyright credit: Auction Bucephalus 2023
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Copyright credit: Auction Bucephalus 2023
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Copyright credit: Auction Bucephalus 2023
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Copyright credit: Auction Bucephalus 2023
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Copyright credit: Auction Bucephalus 2023
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Copyright credit: Auction Nomos 2024
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WEIGHT
Authority
Apollonios, f. Aristeas, agoranomos (North Syria)
Mint
Laodicea ad Mare
Denomination
1 Mina
Material
Lead
Manufacture
Cast
Shape
Triangle
Length
13.30 cm
Width
13.70 cm
Height
1.10 cm
Metrology
| Mass (g) | Mass (grain) | Date of measurement | Reference | fragmented | cleaned | reference weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 700.00 | - | - | Auction Bucephalus 2023 | No | No | No |
| 756.30 | - | April 17, 2023 | Autopsy Charles Doyen & Emma Pavan | No | No | Yes |
| 756.00 | - | - | Auction Nomos 2024 | No | No | No |
Iconography
| Symbol | Technique | Direction | Position | Number | Synecdoche |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | Relief | ||||
| Lattice pattern | Relief | ||||
| Poseidon | Relief | FACING | |||
| Hippocampus | Relief | ||||
| Bunch of grapes | Relief | ||||
| Mask | Relief | ||||
| Marine (?) symbol | Relief | ||||
| Pan | Relief | FACING | |||
| Goat | Relief |
Wear
Corrosion
Handle
No
Suspension hole
No
Recarved mould
No
Recarved weight
No
Intentionally destroyed
No
Archaeological description
Auction Bucephalus 2023: A rare and artistically beautiful large Hellenistic lead weight 2 Mnae. (Lead, 700gr) Condition: About very fine. Uncleaned with a nice natural cream patina. Obv: Down in the middle a female deity carrying on her shoulders a sheepskin. Above and on her right inscription in capital Greek: ΕΤΟVC Z ΔΗΜΟCIA MNA B (The seventh year {of the reign of a certain king} public {weight} of 2 mna.) Rev: Flat.
Autopsy: Triangular lead weight. Base: 13.3 cm. Height: 13.7 cm. Long sides: 14.8 cm. Thickness: 1.1 cm to 1.4 cm (relief). Mass: 756.3 g (17/04/2023). Inner frame: Base: 10.8 cm. Height: 10.3 cm. Long sides: 12.0 cm. Main symbol: facing male figure (Poseidon?) in vegetal or marine setting (?), holding a hippocampus to r. (?) (5.0×5.8 cm). Secondary symbol: bunch of grapes or theatrical mask (?) (5.0×5.8 cm). To the left: illegible letters, monogram or symbol. To the right: probably the agoranomos' monogram (Apollonios). Legend on the main surface, agonranomos' name on the three external sides.
Auction Nomos 2024: SYRIA, Seleukis and Pieria. Laodicea ad Mare. 78/7-17/6 BC. Weight of 1 Mina (Lead, 133 x 145 x 145 mm, 756.00 g), issued by the agoranomos Apollonios, son of Aristeas, dated Laodicean era IZ = 17 = 66/5 BC. E/TO/YC / IZ /ΔHMO/CIA MNA Nude Pan standing facing, emerging from floral motif, carrying with both hands a goat over his shoulder; in left field, Λo above bunch of grapes; in right field, monogram of ΑΠω; on the three edges in relief letters: ΑΓΟΡΑΝΟΜΟΥΝΤΟC / AΠΟΛΛΩΝΙΟΥ / TOY APICTEOY. Rev. Latticework pattern in the form of a net. Pondera 17162 (this weight). Extremely rare - if not unique, and highly interesting late Hellenistic weight. A few uncleaned deposits, otherwise, good very fine.
Autopsy: Triangular lead weight. Base: 13.3 cm. Height: 13.7 cm. Long sides: 14.8 cm. Thickness: 1.1 cm to 1.4 cm (relief). Mass: 756.3 g (17/04/2023). Inner frame: Base: 10.8 cm. Height: 10.3 cm. Long sides: 12.0 cm. Main symbol: facing male figure (Poseidon?) in vegetal or marine setting (?), holding a hippocampus to r. (?) (5.0×5.8 cm). Secondary symbol: bunch of grapes or theatrical mask (?) (5.0×5.8 cm). To the left: illegible letters, monogram or symbol. To the right: probably the agoranomos' monogram (Apollonios). Legend on the main surface, agonranomos' name on the three external sides.
Auction Nomos 2024: SYRIA, Seleukis and Pieria. Laodicea ad Mare. 78/7-17/6 BC. Weight of 1 Mina (Lead, 133 x 145 x 145 mm, 756.00 g), issued by the agoranomos Apollonios, son of Aristeas, dated Laodicean era IZ = 17 = 66/5 BC. E/TO/YC / IZ /ΔHMO/CIA MNA Nude Pan standing facing, emerging from floral motif, carrying with both hands a goat over his shoulder; in left field, Λo above bunch of grapes; in right field, monogram of ΑΠω; on the three edges in relief letters: ΑΓΟΡΑΝΟΜΟΥΝΤΟC / AΠΟΛΛΩΝΙΟΥ / TOY APICTEOY. Rev. Latticework pattern in the form of a net. Pondera 17162 (this weight). Extremely rare - if not unique, and highly interesting late Hellenistic weight. A few uncleaned deposits, otherwise, good very fine.
Autopsy
Yes
INSCRIPTION
| Language | Technique | Legend type |
|---|---|---|
| Greek | Relief | Authority, Date, Denomination, Legal status |
Fac simile
Edition
Ἔ|το|υς | ιζ´ | δημο|σία | μνᾶ || ἀγορανομοῦντος | Ἀ̣π̣ο̣λ̣λωνίου | τοῦ Ἀριστέου.
Monogram
απω
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
Findspot (region)
Findspot (site)
context
CIRCUMSTANCES OF ACQUISITION
Region
Turkey: Hatay
City
Date of first acquisition
April 21, 2023
circumstances
Antiquities trade. Allegedly found in Hatay.
DATING OF THE WEIGHT
Curatorial Section
GREEK
Time frame
FROM
-66
TO
-64
Comments on Chronology
Year 17 of the Freedom of Laodicea (starting in 82/81 or 81/80 BCE) = 66/65 BCE or 65/64 BCE.
Or year 17 of the Caesarian era of Laodicea (starting in 48/47 BCE) = 32/31 BCE?
Or year 17 of the Caesarian era of Laodicea (starting in 48/47 BCE) = 32/31 BCE?
COLLECTION HISTORY
Collection
| Name | Date of acquisition | Inventory number |
|---|---|---|
| Antiquities Trade | June 8, 2024 | None |
Bibliography
| Reference | Page/Column | Reference (number) | Plate / Figure | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auction Bucephalus 2023c | None | 550 | None | None |
| Auction Nomos 2024b | None | 483 | None | None |
VARIA
Additional comment
Mint: most probably Laodicea (triangle). Other possibilities: Seleucia or Antioch. Compare with https://pondera.uclouvain.be/artifact/3563/
Auction Bucephalus 2023: This is a rare and beautifully produced lead weight of 2 mnae from Hellenistic era, obviously from Middle East. Mna was a weight for metals and coins in ancient period with a varying at times weight. Here a mna equals to 350gr.
Auction Nomos 2024: The triangular form, abbreviated ethnic, and reported provenance all seem to support the identification of this object as a weight of Laodicea ad Mare. Henri Syrig's important survey of "Poids antiques de la Syrie et de la Phénicie," Bulletin du Musée de Beyrouth 8 (1949), 37-79, included thirteen triangular weights (nos. 3, 6, 8, 13-15, 17, 19, 23, 28, 30, 32 and 36), none of which feature a detailed figural design, as on the present piece, and only one (no. 3) is dated according to Laodicea's pre-Caesarean era of autonomy (year 29 = 54/3 BC). This weight is therefore the earliest known triangular weight of the city, and the most elaborately produced in the entire corpus of Laodicean weights. The grape bunch and figure of Pan carrying a goat seem to refer to the wine produced in Laodicea's hinterland, particularly on the slopes of nearby Mount Bargylos, and which was a major export for the city. Although Pan does not make an appearance on the civic coinage of Laodicea, his colleague Dionysos does and the Tyche of the city is regularly depicted wearing bunches of grapes in the second century AD.
Auction Bucephalus 2023: This is a rare and beautifully produced lead weight of 2 mnae from Hellenistic era, obviously from Middle East. Mna was a weight for metals and coins in ancient period with a varying at times weight. Here a mna equals to 350gr.
Auction Nomos 2024: The triangular form, abbreviated ethnic, and reported provenance all seem to support the identification of this object as a weight of Laodicea ad Mare. Henri Syrig's important survey of "Poids antiques de la Syrie et de la Phénicie," Bulletin du Musée de Beyrouth 8 (1949), 37-79, included thirteen triangular weights (nos. 3, 6, 8, 13-15, 17, 19, 23, 28, 30, 32 and 36), none of which feature a detailed figural design, as on the present piece, and only one (no. 3) is dated according to Laodicea's pre-Caesarean era of autonomy (year 29 = 54/3 BC). This weight is therefore the earliest known triangular weight of the city, and the most elaborately produced in the entire corpus of Laodicean weights. The grape bunch and figure of Pan carrying a goat seem to refer to the wine produced in Laodicea's hinterland, particularly on the slopes of nearby Mount Bargylos, and which was a major export for the city. Although Pan does not make an appearance on the civic coinage of Laodicea, his colleague Dionysos does and the Tyche of the city is regularly depicted wearing bunches of grapes in the second century AD.
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