The Brussels tetradrachm of Aitna: possibly the most precious ancient coin in the world more

The Brussels tetradrachm of Aitna: possibly the most precious ancient coin of the world To T8Tp&8paxi-io tt]c; Aixvac; otic; Bpu^e- \e<;: (aooc; to TtoXuxiiioxepo apxodo v6|ii- 0[l(X TOU KOO"|iOU Francois de Callatay Francois de Callatay Coinage, as we well know, is an invention which changed the world. The first coins, defined as lumps of precious metal stamped with a punch to guarantee both the weight and the alloy, were issued for the first time not necessarily by but definitively within the characteristic environment of Greek cit- ies, somewhere in Asia Minor around 590 BC. This invention spread throughout the Greek world and, by 540 BC, major cities like Aegina, Athens and Corinth started to issue their own silver coins. The number of issuing cities grew rapidly: they were no less than 80 forty years later by 500 BC. The role of coinage in the development of Greek civilization - or civilization "tout court" - cannot be minimized. Not only has democracy been linked with the spread of coinage (since coins, in opposi- tion to land, were accessible to all) but it may even well be the case that coinage was the necessary step which fostered philosophy and tragedy. The media- tion introduced by coins not only favors abstrac- tion. It also objectifies relationships with others and with the universe. Hence Presocratic philoso- phers and the tragedy cut off the individuals from their families and their gods. Beside their monetary function and all their de- rived consequences, Greek coins are largely ad- mired as the most beautiful coins ever achieved worldwide throughout all of history. The reasons for this admiration are several: high relief, diversity of themes, adjustment of these themes to the small, round format and excellence of the engraving, to be sure. Several Greek coins have especially attracted the attention of collectors and antiquarians. With others, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, the father of art history, developed a special taste for the famous decadrachms of Syracuse, engraved by Kimon and Evainetos. He even dared to see the ultimate beauty in the head of Arethusa. Since more than a century now, the Royal Library of Belgium prides itself in possessing what has of- ten been acclaimed as the most remarkable surviv- ing ancient coin: the unique tetradrachm of Aitna HvopicrpaTOKonia, oncoc; in yvcopiipupe, eivai pia ec(>eupecrn. nou dXXa£e tov Kocrpo. Ta npcoia vopi- crpaTa r]Tav pia pd(a noXimpou peTdXXou crc|>payicrpevou |ie pia pr]Tpa, n onoia anoTeXoucre eyyuncrn tou pdpouc, tcai tou Kpdpaioc, touc, kou ei<S69r]Kav yia npcoin (|>opd Kdnou cTin Mitcpd Ama yupco ctto 590 n.X., oxi anapairnja ojio tic, eXXnvitcec, noXeic;, aXXd oncocrSr]noTe evioc, inc, crcpaipac; enippor|c, touc,. H ecpeupecrr] auir| ec;anXco0r]Ke ere 6Xo tov eXXnviKO Kocrpo kou ecoc; to 540 n.X. peydXec; noXeic; oncoc, n Aiyiva, n A0r]va kou n KopivGoc, dpxicrav va bkSiSouv Ta Sited touc; apyupd vopicrpaTa. O apiGpoc; tcov noXecov nou ec;eSiSav vopitrporra auc;r)0nKe paySaia: nepinou 80 pecra crra enopeva crapdvTa xpovia, ecoc; to 500 n.X. O poXoc; Tnc; vopicrpaTOKoniac; tTTnv ec;eXic;r| tou eXXn- vikou noXiTicrpou - r) tou noXiTicrpou ev yevei - Sev eivai apeXnTeoc;. H ec;dnXcocrr| Tnc; Sev crxeTi(eTai povo pe Tn SnpoKpaTia (piac; Kai, ere avTiGecrn pe Tn yr|, 6Xoi eixav npocrpacrn. crTa vopicrpaTa), aXXd pnopei 0a 0ecopr|8ei oti anoTeXecre to avayKaio Prjpa yia Tnv dv0r|crr| tt|c; <pi\o- ao<piaq Kai tt|c; TpaycoSiac;. H xpilCTrl Kal napepPacrn. tcov vopicrpdTcov cttic; truvaXXayec; euv6n.cre Tn.v ac()r|pn.pevr| tTKev)»r|, Kai oxi povov. Ylpoae<pepe enicrr|c; pia avTiKeipe- viKonoin.crn. tcov CTxecrecov pe touc; unoXomouc; avGpconouc;, touc; AAAcwc, Kai to crupnav. Oc; bk toutou oi npocrcoKpa- tikoi cfuXocrocpoi Kai n. TpaycoSia aneKov)»av Ta dTopa ojio tic; oiKoyeveiec; Kai touc; Geouc; touc;. nepa ano tt| vopicrpaTiKri XeiToupyia touc; Kai 6Xa Ta enaKoXouGa auTr|c;, Ta eXXnviKd vopicrpaTa x«ipouv iSiai- repou Gaupacrpou coc; Ta copaioTepa tou eiSouc; nou exouv undpc;ei crrnv nayKocrpia icrTopia. Eivai noXXoi oi Xoyoi yia touc; onoiouc; crupPaivei auTo: to uv)»n.X6 avdyXuc()o, n noiKiXia tcov GepdTcov, n. npocrappoyri auTcov tcov 0epd- tcov ctto piKpo CTTpoyyuXo crxr)pa Kai n. ec;oxn. eyxdpac;r| eivai criyoupa pepiKoi ano auTouc;. ApKeTd eXXnviKd vopi- crpaTa exouv npocreXKUcrei Tn.v iSiafrepn. npocroxr| cruXXe- ktcov Kai apxaioSic|>cov. MeTac;u dXXcov, o Johann Joachim Winckelmann, o naTepac, Tnc; icrropiac; tt|c; Texvr|c;, ave- nTuc;e iSiairepn. npoTipn.crr| yia Ta nepic()r|pa SeKdSpaxpa tcov ZupaKoucrcov, x«P«Y|reva ano tov Kipcova Kai tov EuaiveTO. MdXicrra, crTr|v Kec()aXr| tt|c; ApeGoucrac; eiSe Tn.v unepTaTn. opopc()id. nepicrcroTepo ano evav aicova Tcopa n. BacriXiKr] BipXio- 9r|Kr| tou BeXyiou KaTexei pe unepn.c()dveia auTo nou 0eco- peiTai coc; to mo ac;i6Xoyo apxaio vopicrpa nou exei crcoGei: to povaSiKO TeTpdSpaxpo tt|c; Airvac; nou Konr|Ke air] 80 (Etna) struck in Sicily, somewhere on the slopes of the eponymous volcano, around 465 BC (no. 1 in the catalogue, fig. 1). This silver coin, which is not for sale, has been praised as the ultimate dream of wealthy collectors, as exemplified by an anecdote reported by Leo Mildenberg about Arthur S. Dew- ing: "Great Greek coins which he owned, or knew of, were the life companions of a man who excelled as a scholar and businessman. When we first met by chance in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, he immediately pounced on me with his famous query: Do you have an Aitna tetradrachm in your pocket! Whereupon I replied, Is the Brussels Aitna the coin of your dreams! I saw a quick and piercing look in his eyes before he quietly nodded his bearded head". Recently, in 2004, an exhibition entitled The coin of coins was mounted at the Israel Museum entirely devoted to this single coin and its context, an hon- our never given before or after to any other numis- matic item (Callatay & Gitler 2004a and 2004b). Pedigree As a matter of fact, the tetradrachm of Aitna immediately exercised some sort of fascination. It made its first appearance in literature in 1867. Found near Catania (we don't know when exactly), it was kept for a while in the Verga Catalano collec- tion (Catania). From there, it passed into the hands of the Castellani brothers, Alessandro and Augus- to, the famous Roman jewellers and antiquarians, before being bought in July 1882 for a high sum (8.000 Belgian francs, which roughly correspond to € 60.000) by a young man of 26 years, Lucien de Hirsch (1856-1887). Lucien de Hirsch was the only son of one of the wealthiest men of his time: the banker Moritz von Hirsch (1831-1896), also called the Baron Maurice de Hirsch who, among many en- terprises, took control of the Orient-Express and co-founded the Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas. Lucien de Hirsch did not live long. He passed away at the age of 30 in April 1887. Maurice de Hirsch himself died in 1896, soon joined by his wife Clara Bischoffsheim, of Belgian extraction, in 1899. She bequeathed to the Belgian State the coin collection or her only son (1.877 Greek coins, most of them of superior rarity and state of preservation) along with his specialized library and the antiquities which once decorated his cabinet. All these belongings joined the Royal Library of Belgium (to which the national coin cabinet is attached) in 1899. When the Royal Library of Belgium moved into a new building in 1969, a special room dedicated to the memory of Lucien de Hirsch was built, according to the will of his mother. It is there that the tetradrachm of Aitna is kept, with the other coins of the Hirsch collec- tion, only distinguished by a round box filled with cotton wool (Naster 1959: 71, no. 269). XiKeXia, k&ttou erne, nXayiec, tou (|>epwvupou ncpaicrreiou, yupw ctto 465 n.X. (ap. 1 tou KaiaXoyou, eiK. 1) Auto to apyupo vopicrpa, to onoio Sev SiaTiGeTai npoc, nwXncrn, exei u|xvn6ei wc, to unepTaTO oveipo twv nXoucriwv cruXXe- ktwv, onwc, (|>aiveTai x«p«KTnpicrTiKd ano eva avetcSoTO jtou avec|>epe o Leo Mildenberg yia tov Arthur S. Dewing: «Ta crnouSaia eXXnviKa vopicrpaTa nou Korreixe, rj nou yvwpi^e, rjTav oi cruvTpo(|>oi piac, (wrjc, evoc, avGpwnou jtou Sienpevj/e wc, peXeTnjrjc, Kai wc, emxeipn.paTiac,. Ototv yvwpicrrrjKape kcxt& Tuxn ctto Moucreio KaXwv Texvwv Tnc, BoCTTWvnc,, apecrwc, oppticre npoc, to pepoc, pou aneuGuvo- vtck; pou Tnv nepkfHipn epwTncrn: Mr/nox; eje<c eva rerpa- Spaxfio Tn<; A'nvac; arnv Taenn aov; OnoTe tou andvTncra, To vdjiiojia tov oveipov aov eivai exeivo and Tnv A'nva otk; Bpv^eXXeQ EiSa eva PiacmKO kou SianepacrriKO pXep- ua crra pema tou npiv cruyKaTaveucrei rjpepa pe to yeveio- cf>6po Kec|>&Xi tou». Ylpootyam, to 2004, opyavwOntce ctto Moucreio tou IcrparjX pia eKGecrn pe titXo To vdfiiafia tov vojA.iajA.aTov (The coin of coins) acfnepwpevn e£' oXoKXrjpou ere auTO kou povo to vopicrpa kou to yeviKOTepo nepiP&X- Xov tou, pia Tiprj nou Sev exei anoSoGei ere Kaveva dXXo vopicrpa npiv rj peTa (Callatay & Gilter 2004a Kai 2004b). H TtpoeAeuar] npdypaTi, to TeTpdSpaxpo Tnc, Afrvac, evTunwcriacre ano Tnv npwTn. cmyprj. Epc|>avicrTr]Ke yia npwTn. (|>opd crrnv enicrTn.poviKrj ypappaTeia to 1867. Bpe9n.Ke kovto crrnv KaTdvn. (to hotb aKpi^wc, eivai dyvwcrTo) Kai yia eva uiKpo 8idcTTr|pa PpicrKOTav air] cruXXoyrj Verga Catalano (crTnv KaTdvn.). MeTd ano eKei, nepacre crTr|v KaToxrj twv a8eXc()wv Castellani, Alessandro Kai Augusto, twv ne- pic()r|pwv pwpaiwv Kocrpn.paTonwXwv Kai apxaio8ic()wv, npiv ayopacTTei, tov IouXio tou 1882, ano evav veo dv8pa 26 xpovwv, tov Lucien de Hirsch (1856-1887), avTi evoc, ueydXou nocrou (8.000 ^eXyiKd c()pdyKa, Ta onoia avTi- cttoixouv nepinou ere 60.000€). O Lucien de Hirsch rjTav o povaxoyioc, evoc, ano touc, nXoucrioTepouc, avGpwnouc, rr|c, enoxrjc, tou: tou Tpanetfrn. Moritz von Hirsch (1831- 1896), nou anoKaXouvTav enicrnc, Kai Papovoc, Maurice de Hirsch, o onoioc,, peTa^u dXXwv emxeiprjcrewv, eixe anoKTrjcrei tov eXeyxo tou Orient-Express Kai eixe cruppe- Tdcrxei c)Tnv [Spucrn. Tn.c, Tpanetn.1; twv napimwv Kai twv KdTW Xwpwv (Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas). O Lucien de Hirsch Sev e(ncre noXXd xpovia. neGave tov AnpiXio tou 1887 ere nXiKia 30 xpovwv. O Maurice de Hirsch ne- 9ave to 1896, Kai tov aKoXou9n.cre Xiyo apyoTepa, to 1899, r| cru^uyoc, tou Clara Bischoffsheim, PeXyiKrjc, KaTaywyrjc,. EKeivn. KXn.poSoTn.cre ctto BeXyiKO KpdToc, Tn cruXXoyrj vo- uicrpdTwv tou povaxoyiou Tnc, (1.877 eXXnviKa vopicrpaTa, crrnv nXeiovoTnjd touc, e^aipeTiKrjc, crnavi6Tr|Tac, Kai Ka- XoSiaTn.pn.peva) pa(i pe Ta e^eiSiKeupeva Pi^Xia tou Kai tic, apxaioTnjec, nou KdnoTe Kocrpoucrav tic, npoGrjKec, tou ypac()eiou tou. 'OXa auTd Ta anoKTrjpaTa npocrTe0r|Kav crrn. BacriXiKrj BipXioGrjKn. tou BeXyiou (crTn.v onoia npo- crapTrj0r|Ke Kai n. eGviKrj vopicrpaTiKrj cruXXoyrj) to 1899. DTav n. BacriXiKrj BipXioGrjKn. peTac|>ep9n.Ke ere Kaivoupyio KTrjpio to 1969, KTicrrnKe pia eiSiKrj aiGoucra acfHepwpevn, cTTrj pvrjpn. tou Lucien de Hirsch, crup(|>wva pe Tnv eniGu- |iia Tn.c, pn.Tepac, tou. Ekbi c()uXdcrcreTai to TeTpdSpaxpo Tn.c, Afrvac,, pa(i pe Ta dXXa vopicrpaTa Tn.c, cruXXoyrjc, Hirsch, Kai £exwpi(ei povo ano eva crTpoyyuXo kouti crTpwpevo pe |3ap|3dKi (Naster 1959: 71, no. 269). 81 Historiographical fate In 1883, immediately after this expensive acquisi- tion, Lucien de Hirsch published an article in the Numismatic Chronicle entitled: Rare and Inedited Sicilian Coins wherein he put the tetradrachm of Aitna before all the others under the statement: "This coin I consider to be the most important of the whole; its state of preservation is as good as can be desired, and the reverse type entirely new and most interesting" (Hirsch 1883: 165). It turned out that, in the same volume of the Numismatic Chroni- cle, Barclay V. Head himself (1844-1914) pointed out how nicely the monetary types of "the marvellous coin of Aetna" were fitting the literary evidence, especially Pindar (c. 518-438 BC). Consecration came from Berlin the year after when Alfred von Sallet (1842-1897) added his personal comments to "dieses prachtvolle Stuck" (Sallet 1884: 345). Since this very moment, the coin acquired an out- standing reputation, being considered as the per- fect example of an iconographic "lesson of history". Indeed, as noticed by George Francis Hill (1867- 1948): "There are few coins which so completely fit in with all that history tells us of the circumstances of the period when they were struck, as does this curious coin of Hiero's short-lived colony" (Hill 1903: 75). An assertion repeated in 1906: "On the tetradrachm, every detail of the type serves to give local colour" (Hill 1906: 45). Many marks of tribute were paid to the Aitna tet- radrachm. It decorates the front covers of several books (see recently Seaford 2004). Charles Seltman (1886-1957) even decided to print it in golden low relief for the first edition of his book Greek Coins (Seltman 1933). Against every chronological or geographical sequence, the Aitna tetradrachm was chosen to be enlarged on the first plate of G.F. Hill, L'art dans les monnaies grecques. Pieces choisies, reproduites en agrandissement et decrites (Paris- Brussels, 1927). The Aitna tetradrachm is also the only coin that does not belong to the British Mu- seum to have been integrated (without indication of price: another peculiarity) in the famous collector's guide written by David Sear: Greek Coins and Their Values (Sear 1978: 80, no. 764). It has been variously described as "one of the most precious monuments for the history of Greek Art" (Holm 1898: 579), or "possibly the most beautiful strike of all the Late Archaic Sicilian coinages" (Schwabacher 1933: 126) or, more soberly, "one of the masterpieces of Sicilian coinage" (Kraay 1976: 212). The dies of that silver coin are unsigned. Very few Greek dies were signed (some dozens out of hun- dreds of thousands) and none for that time. Unlike H icrropioypac|HKr) 5ia5po|ir] To 1883, apecrcoc; peTd inv ayopd tou noXimpou vopi- crpaToc;, o Lucien de Hirsch Snuomeucre eva dp9po ctto Numismatic Chronicle pe tov titXo: Rare and Inedited Sicilian Coins, onou pd(ei to xeipdSpaxpo inc, Afrvac; unepdvco oXcov pe in Sf]Xcdcrr]: «©ecopco auTO to vopicrpa uc, to crnpavTiKOTepo oXcov. H KaTdcTTacrn. crrnv onoia crw(eTai eivai n nXeov em9upnjf] kou o ottictGotuttoc, tou evteXwc, Kaivoupyioc, kou noXu evSiac|>epcdv» (Hirsch 1883: 165). Ztov iSio Topo tou Numismatic Chronicle o Barclay V. Head (1844-1914) unoypdppicre nocro copaia Taipid- (ouv pe tic, nnyec, Tnc, KXacriKf]c; ypapporreiac, oi Tunoi tou «e£oxou vopicrpaToc; Tnc; Afrvac,», Kupicoc, pe tov nivSapo (nep. 518-438 n.X.). H KaGiepcocrn f]p9e ano to BepoXrvo eva xpovo apyoTepa, OTav o Alfred von Sallet (1842-1897) jrpocrGecTe to npocrconiKO tou ctxoXio yia <«xvto to Oavfid- mo v6fuafia» (Sallet 1884: 345). Ano tote to vopicrpa aneKTticre ec;aipeTiKf] (|>r]pn coc. to TeXeio napdSeiypa evoc, eiKovoypacfuKou «pa9f]paToc; LCTTopiac,». npdypom, oncoc; crnpeicocre o George Francis Hill (1867-1948): «Yndpxouv Xiya vopicrpaTa nou avTi- jrpocrconeuouv tocto oXoKXnpcopeva 6,ti yvcopi(oupe ano rnv icTTopia, yia tic; cruv9r|Kec; Tnc; nepioSou crTnv onoia etc- S69nKav, oncoc; auTO to napdc;evo vopicrpa tt|c; Ppaxuf^iac; anoitdac; tou Iepcova» (Hill 1903:75).'Evac; icrxupicrpoc; nou enavaXr](|>9r]Ke to 1906: «Zto TeTpdSpaxpo, tcd9e XenTO- uepeia tou Tunou anoSiSei Tn.v ToniKr| napd8ocrr|» (Hill 1906: 45). Sto TeTpdSpaxpo tt|c; Afrvac; exei ano8o9ei noXXec; epo- pee; <popoq Tiprjc;. Kocrpei to ec;cd(|>uXXo noXXcov Pi^Xicov (PX. to np6cr(|>aTO tou Seaford 2004). AKopn. tcai o Charles Seltman (1886-1957) eneXec;e va to Tuncocrei ere xpucro x«- ur|X6 avdyXuc()o yia Tnv npcoTn. eK8ocrr| tou Pi^Xiou tou Greek Coins (Seltman 1933). napapXenovTac; tcd9e XP°- voXoyiKT| r| yecoypacfHKr] aXXr|Xouxia, to TeTpdSpaxpo rr|c; Afrvac; napoucridcrTr|Ke ere peyev9ucrr| cttov npcoTO ni- vaKa tou Pi^Xiou tou G. F. Hill, L'art dans les monnaies grecques. Pieces choisies, reproduites en agrandissement et decrites (napicri-Bpuc;eXec;, 1927). Emerge;, to TeTpdSpaxpo rr|c; Afrvac; eivai to povaSitco vopicrpa nou xwpk va avf]Kei ctto BpeTaviKO Moucreio exei crupnepiXr]<|>9ei (xwpic; evSei- fy] Tipf|c;: dXXn. pia iSiaiTepoTr|Ta) cttov nepic()r|po oSn.yo yia touc; cruXXeKTec;, ypappevo ano tov David Sear: Greek Coins and Their Values (Sear 1978: 80, no. 764). 'Exei noiKiXoTponcoc; xapaKTnpicrrei coc; «eva ano Ta no- XuTipoTepa pvr)peia tt|c; icrropiac; TVf, EXXn.viKf|c; Texvr|c;» (Holm 1898: 579), f] «m9avwc; to opopc|>6Tepo Seiypa 0X6- KXn.pn.c; tt|c; Tcrrepr]c; Apxai'Kf|c; ZiKeXiKf|c; vopicrpaTOKO- niac;» (Schwabacher 1933: 126) f] mo anXd «eva ano Ta apicTTOupyf|paTa tt|c; ZiKeXiKf|c; vopicrpaTOKoniac;» (Kraay 1976: 212). Oi pf|Tpec; auTou tou apyupou vopicrpaToc; eivai avuno- ypac()ec;. noXu Xiyec; eXXn.viKec; pf|Tpec; f|Tav evun6ypac|>ec; (pepiKec; SeKdSec; ano tic; etcaTOVTdSec; xiXidSec;) Kai Ka- |iia eKeivr) Tn.v nepioSo. AvTi9eTa pe touc; cruvaSeXc|>ouc; eiSiKouc; eni tcov eXXnviKwv ayyeicov, oi vopicrpaToXoyoi f|Tav aveKa9ev mo SicrTaKTiKoi ctto va Sn.pioupyf]crouv rr|v evvoia tou «XapdKTr| tou...». Ze auTf| Tn.v nepinTco- crn., cocttocto, eKavav pia ec;aipecrr| tcai anoc^dcricrav va Sw- 82 their colleagues who specialize in Greek vases, nu- mismatists have always been more reluctant to cre- ate "masters of". But, here, they made an exception and decided to give a name to "this man of gen- ius": the "Master of Aitna" (sometimes also called the "Master of the Silenos" or the "Master of Brus- sels"). It comes as no surprise that Charles Seltman is again among the enthusiasts for this engraver of "unsurpassed ability" (Seltman 1952: 16-7): "The engraver had no set subject to re-create, and, since he was making its dies for a brand new city, he was free to invent brand new types. So it came to pass that this man, whom we now call the AETNA MAS- TER, made the most magnificent head of seilenos in all art..." (Seltman 1949: 54). Elsewhere, the same Charles Seltman placed the finest Greek die-en- gravers of the fifth century BC beyond any other engraver whatever the century, and that includes Pisanello: "Heracleidas of Catana, Kimon and Euai- netos at their best, ... and the master of Aetna and Sicilian Naxos, they are to be set before all others" (Seltman 1933: 266). During WWII, Armand Bonnetain (1883-1973), the most celebrated Belgian medallist of his time, came to the Brussels coin cabinet asking for some- thing beautiful and ancient to copy... in order to enhance his art. He was presented with the tet- radrachm of Aitna which fits indeed very well these two criteria. The only proviso was to leave the tools - the obverse and reverse dies (nos. 7 & 8 in the cat- alogue, fig. 34 & 35) - and the only silver replica to the Royal Library of Belgium. Despite the deliberate flatness of the piece, it proves very much to the skill of Mr. Bonnetain (no. 6 in the catalogue, fig. 36). aouv eva 6vo|aa oe avrf\ Tnv «i5io(|>uTa»: o «Xapdi<Tnc; rnq AiTvac;» (opia|i£v£c; cJ>op£c; ovouaffSeic. i<ai «Xapdi<Tnc; tou ZiXtyvou» f] «Xap&KTnc. tcov Bpu£;£XXiov»). Aev £KTrXf]ao"£i to yEyovdc; oti o Charles Seltman eivoci kou ndXi Evac; ano tout; 0au|iao"T£c; auTou tou xaP^KTH ^e Tr)v «ajTapd|iiXXn ii<av6Tr)Ta» (Seltman 1952: 16-7): «0 x^pdicrnc; 5ev eixe k&ttoio 5£5o|i£vo avTiKeiuevo va £Tt£^£pyaaT£l K0U, £(j)d- aov £ix£ va 5r)|iioupyf]0"£i u(a o"(J>payi5a yia u(a v£a ndXn, £iX£ Tnv £A£u0£pia va ecpeupei e£' oXoKXipou veouc; tu- jtouc;. Kai auvEpn auTdc; o dvOptonoc;, nou Ttopa anoi<a- Xou|i£ XAPAKTH THZ AITNAZ, va ((ma^Ei to mo utte- poxo k£(J>dXi aiXtyvou dXnc; rnc; Texvnc....» » (Seltman 1949: 54). Ze dXXo ffnueio, i<ai ndXi o Charles Seltman tottoGetei touc; KocXuTepouc. eXXnvec. xaPaKre$ o"(J>payi5tov tou 5ou ou. n.X. ndvo and onoiovSnnoTE xapdicrn onoiaa5f|TtoT£ enoxnc;, o"u|iTT£piXa|i[3avo|i£vou i<ai tou rii(av£XXo: «0 HpaKXddac; and Tnv Kardvn, o Kiuovac. i<ai o EualvETOc; aTa KaXuTEpd touc.,... i<ai o xapdicrnc; rnc; AiTvac; i<ai rnq ZiK£Xn<f|(; Nd^ou Tip£TT£i va 0£opn0ouv avarrepoi dXtov» (Seltman 1933: 266). Kara rr\ 5idpi<£ia tou B' nayi<oo"|iiou ttoXe|jou o Armand Bonnetain (1883-1973), o mo (pnuiffuevoc. BeX- yoc; xapdicrnc; |i£TaXXiov rnc; £noxr]c; tou, Emo"k£cJ>0nK£ rr\ vouiffuariKr) auXXoyf] cttic; Bpuc;£X£c; ava(r)TtovTac; «xan o^iopcpo km apxa'io yia va avnypaif/ei... 6<jte va jieXriu- aei Tnv rexvn wv». Tou Trpoo"£cJ>£pav to T£Tpd5paxi-io rnq Arrvac., to onolo nXnpoi ttoXu i<aXd auTd Ta 5uo i<piTf|pia. O uovaSiKoc. dpoc; nou £T£0n f|Tav va ac)>f]0"£i ra EpyaXda - tic; o"c)>payi5£c; tou euTtpoffSoTwrou i<ai tou omaGoTunou (ap. 7 & 8 tou KaTaXdyou, eik. 34 & 35) - i<ai to |aova5u<6 aan|i£vio avTiypac))o crrn BaaiXiKf] BipXio0f|Kn tou BEXyi- ou. riapd Tnv n0£Xr)|i£vn EmnEdn anddoan tou avayXu- (pov, to anoT£X£a|aa anoSeiKvuei Tnv iKavornra tou i<upi- ou Bonnetain (ap. 6 tou KaTaXdyou, eik. 36). 83 Fig. 37 Elk. 37 Description The tetradrachm of Aitna is unique, remarkably preserved, engraved by one of the best artists of its time and a perfect "lesson of history" (no. 1 in the catalogue, fig. 37). Indeed, any detail of the types, both obverse and reverse, looks significant, charged with some historical or mythological meaning. The obverse of the coin depicts the head of the satyr Silenos while, on the reverse, one finds a seated Zeus facing right. These main types are enriched by secondary types: a beetle on the obverse; a throne adorned by a panther skin, a vine-branch and an ea- gle on a pine-tree on the reverse. Let us consider them one by one: Obverse -Silenos: Silenos is portrayed in some myths as the oldest of the satyrs. The son of Hermes or Pan, he is the companion of Dionysos, the wine-god. Con- sidering the lush vineyards surroundings Mount Etna, whose slopes were reputed for their fertil- ity (see Strabo), the figure of Silenos cannot be unexpected. In addition, Silenos is also described by Euripides (The Cyclopes) as the servant of Polyphemos, the one-eyed Cyclops who lived in a cave of the Mount Etna. Another legend (see the poem Aetna 36-40, generally attributed to Vir- gil) reports that the Cyclopes were the ones who forged the arms and the thunderbolt of Zeus, es- tablishing a link between the obverse and the re- verse of the coin. -Beetle: Beetles (kantharos in Greek) of Mount Etna were famous as the largest known in the ancient world (Aristoph. Peace 73). Actually, this may Fig. 37 Silver tetradrachm of Aitna, c. 465 BC ri£piypac|)r] To Teip&Spaxiio inc, Afrvac, eivai povaSiKO, crwi^opevo ere e^oupeTiKr] Kaiacrracrr], x«P«y^evo ano evav ano touc; KaXuTepouc, KaXXiTexvec, inc, enoxr]c, tou kou anoTeXei eva e^aipeiiKO «pd0r]pa icrropiac,» (ap. 1 tou KaiaXoyou, eiK. 37). ripdypan, k&9e XenTopepeia twv twtwv tou, tocto cttov epnpocrGoTuno ocro kou cttov ottictGotutto, cpaiveTai OT]|iavTiKr] kou cruvuc|>acrpevr] pe k&ttoio icrropiKO v\ pu0o- XoyiKO nepiexopevo. O epnpocrGoTunoc; tou vopicrpaToc; aneiKovi^ei Tnv Kec|>aXr] tou craTupou ZiXnvou, evw cttov onicrGoTuno Ppimcoupe tov Aia evGpovo npoc, Ta Se£id. Oi Kupioi tuttoi epnXouTi(ovTai pe SeuTepeuovTec,: evac, cma- papaioc, cttov epnpocrGoTuno, eva Gpovo Sioucocrpnpevo ue Seppa ndvGnpa, evav KXdSoc, apneXou Kai evav aeTO ndvw ere neuKO cttov omcrGoTuno. Ac, touc, e^eTdcroupe evav npoc, eva: EpnpocrBoTUTTOc. -O Zdtjvoc;: O ZiXnvoc, epcpaviteTai ere opicrpevouc, puGouc, wc, o npecrpuTepoc, ano touc, craTupouc,. Eivai o yioc, tou Eppr| v\ tou Fldva, Kai o aKoXouGoc, tou Aiovuctou, tou 9eou tou Kpacriou. AapPdvovTac, unov|»n. touc, nXoucnouc, apneXwvec, Tnc, Afrvac,, oi nXayiec, Tnc, onoiac, c^npiCo- vTav yia Tn yovipoTnrd touc, ([3X. ZTpd^wva), n popc|>r] tou ZiXnvou eivai avapevopevn. EnmXeov, o ZiXnvoc, rrepiypd(|>eTai ano tov EupmiSn. {KvKXcoxj/) wc, o unnpeTnc, tou rioXuc^npou, tou pov6(|>9aXpou KuKXwna nou (oucre ere pia crnnXid Tnc, Afrvac,. Ze dXXo pu0o ([3X. to noinpa A'nva. 36-40, nou anoSiSeTai crro BipyiXio) avac(>epe- rai oti oi KuKXwnec, f]Tav eKervoi nou KaTamceuacrav Ta onXa Kai tov Kepauvo tou Aia, Kai btcti crucrxeTi(eTai o epnpocrGoTunoc, tou vopicrpaToc, pe tov omcrGoTuno. -O axapafSaloc;: Oi ctKapaPaioi Tnc, Airvac, tyr)[ii(,ovmv wc, oi peyaXuTepoi nou f]Tav yvwcrroi cttov apxaio Kocrpo (ApicrTocf). Eipr/vt] 73). Einv npaypaTiKOTnra, pdXXov Sev icrxuei auTO Kai o ctKapaPaioc, tou TeTpdSpaxpou tt|c, AiTvac, np6cr(|>aTa avayvwpicrTnKe wc, to crndvio Eik. 37 Apyupo t£Tpa5pax|iov jr\q Aiivat;, tt. 465 tt.X. 84 be not the case and the beetle of the Aitna tet- radrachm has recently been identified as the rare Thorectes marginatus, a large species indeed even if not the largest. Reverse -Zeus: Zeus Aitnaios is the master of Mount Etna, as made clear by Pindar (Pyth. 1.9-10 and 55-60 and 4.10). According to the Aitna poem attributed to Livy, Zeus buried Enkelados, the chief of the gi- ants, under the Etna mountain and his last move- ments caused the mountain to erupt. -Panther's skin: Panther's skin (not lion's skin, as made clear by the dots and little curves visible on the skin) is associated with Dionysos and thus with wine and vineyards. -Vine-branch: Another allusion to the rich vine- yards of the Etna slopes. -Thunderbolt: The thunderbolt is the main attribute of Zeus fulminating. In this particular case, it is a winged thunderbolt held vertically. Exact par- allels can be found on silver litrae struck in the name both of the Aitnaians and the Catanians. -Eagle (?): The eagle is the companion of Zeus and is commonly associated with him on monetary is- sues. However, on the Aitna tetradrachm, we have to admit that the "eagle", perched on a pine-tree, has straight beak and flat feet which contradict some characteristics of a bird of prey. -Pine-tree: In antiquity, the slopes of Mount Etna were covered by a large forest (see Diod. 14.42.4 or Strab. 6.2.8) as they are still now. It is likely that the precise species of tree depicted on the Aitna tetradrachm is an Abies nebrodensis, a type of fir tree classified as endangered and surviving only in very few specimens all located between Palermo and Cefalu. History Numismatists tend to think that the Brussels tetradrachm of Aitna was struck during the 460's, either slightly before 465 BC in Catana, renamed Aitna for a while, or slightly after 465 BC some- where on the west slopes of the volcano. In any case, it is linked with the Syracusan tyrant Hieron and more generally with tyranny in Sicily. Hippokrates, tyrant of Gela and master of many Sicilian cities, died in 491 BC. With his death, the power passed to Gelon, son of Deinomenes (hence the dynasty of the Deinomenids), general of Hip- pokrates in charge of the cavalry. Gelon first con- quered Syracuse (485 BC) before winning a re- sounding naval victory over the Carthaginians at the battle of Himera (480 BC). In 478/7 BC, Gelon died and with him what has been called a golden age; he was replaced by his brother Hieron, of des- potic and suspicious temperament. Thorectes marginatus, peydXo eiSoc,, av kou oxi to peya- XuTepo ere peyeGoc,. OttictBotuttoc, -O Zevc;: O Zeuc, Atrvatoc, etvat o Kuptoc, kou npocrraTnc, tou opouc, AtTva, onwc, craepwe, avac|>epei o nivSapoc, (llv9.1.9-10, 55-60 kou 4.10). Zupc|>wva pe to nottipa inc, Atrvac,, nou anoStSeTat ctto At^to, o Atac, e0av|»e k&to ano to (|>epwvupo opoc, tov EyKeXaSo, tov apxnyo twv ytydvTwv, tou onotou oi eniGavdTtec, Ktvr]creic, npoKdXe- crav Tnv eKpn£n tou nc|>oucrreiou. -To Sepfia nav9t]pa!To Seppa ndvGtipa (kou oxi n XeovTr], onwc, KorraSeiKvuouv oi koukkiSec, kou oi ptKpec, Kapnu- Xec, ndvw ere auTo) crxeT'teTal pe to Atovucro kou kou' eneKTacrn pe to Kpacrt kou touc, apneXwvec,. -OxXdSoq Ttjc;afiJieAov: AKopn ptanapanopnr] cttouc, ttXou- crtouc, apneXwvec, twv nXaytwv Tnc, Atrvac,. -O xepavvoq: O Kepauvoc, etvat to Kupto x«P«KTnpicrTiKO rnc, opyr|c, tou Ata. Einv npoKeipevn neptnTwcrn. npoKet- tou yia (|>TepwT6 Kepauvo ere k&9eTn Gecrn. AKptp1 wc, iStec, aneiKovtcreic, undpxouv ere Xtrpec, atrvtaKr]c, kou Korravi- Kt|c, eKSocrnc,. -OaeTdq (;)'■ O aeToc, cruvoSeuet tov Ata kou etvat avapevo- uevo va aneiKovt(ovTat pa(t ere voptcrpaTa. Zto TeTpd- Spaxpo Tnc, Atrvac,, wcttocto, npenet va napaSexToupe OTt o «aeToc,», nou epc()avi(eTai va avanaueTat ndvw ere neuKO, avanaptcrraTai pe euGuTevec, pdpc|>oc, Kat «entne- 8a» noSta, xapaKTripicrTiKd nou epxovTat ere avTiGecrn, pe tt) crrdcrn. evoc, nTnvou-0n.peuTr]. -To nemo: Ztt|v apxatoTnra, oi nXaytec, Tn.c, Atrvac, KaXu- nTOVTav ano eva peydXo Sdcroc, ([5X. AtoSwpoc, o ZtKe- XtwTr|c, 14.42.4 r\ ZTpd^wvac, 6.2.8), onwc, crupPatvet Kat crr]pepa. Etvat niGavo, to cruyKeKptpevo eiSoc, SevTpou nou aneiKovt(eTat ctto TeTpdSpaxpo Tn.c, Atrvac,, va etvat eva Abies nebrodensis, eva anetXoupevo eiSoc, eXaTou, nou entxwpid(ei ere ptKpr] povo eKTacrn. crrnv neptoxr] pe- ra£u naXeppou Kat Kec|>aXouc,. H latopta Oi voptcrpaToXoyot nicrreuouv oti to TeTpdSpaxpo tt|c, AiTvac, cttic, Bpu^eXXec, Konn.Ke yupw air] SeKaeTta tou 460, eire Xtyo nptv to 465 n.X. crrnv KaTdvr), nou peTO- vopdcr0r|Ke ere AtTva yia Kdnoto Sidcrnipa, efre Xtyo peTa to 465 n.X. Kdnou air] SuTtKr] nXaytd tou n.<|>aicrTeiou. Ze Kd0e neptnTwcrr], crxeTt(eTai pe tov ZupaKoucrto Tupavvo Iepwva Kat yevtKOTepa pe Tn.v Tupavvta air] ZtKeXta. To 491 n.X., peTa to GdvaTO tou InnoKpdTn., Tupdvvou Tn.c, TeXac, Kat dpxovTa noXXwv crtKeXiKwv noXewv, n. e^ou- crta nepacre ctto leXwva, uto tou Aetvopevouc, (an' onou Kat r| SuvacTTeta twv AeivopeviSwv), tnndpxou tou InnoKpdTn.- O leXwv KaTeXa[5e npwTa tic, ZupaKoucrec, (485 n.X.), nptv vtKr|crei KaTd KpdToc, touc, Kapxn.86vtouc, air] vaupaxta Tn.c, Ipepac, (480 n.X.). To 478/7 n.X. o leXwvac, anepiwere Kat pa(t pe eKetvov oXoKXn.pw0n.Ke Kat n. XPvar) enoxr| tou, onwc, anoKaXouvTav. Tov avTiKaTecrTr|cre o aSeXc|>6c, tou Iepwvac,, evac, auTapxtKoc, Kat KaxunonToc, dvGpwnoc,. O Iepwvac,, pr| atcrOavopevoc, acr(()aXr|c, cttic, ZupaKou- crec,, peTeyKaTacrTd0r|Ke cruvTopa crTn.v KaTdvn., tt|v onota peTovopacre ere AtTva (476/5 n.X.), niGavwc, Xoyw Kdnotac, icrxupr|c, eKpn.^tTi T0U n.<t>atcrTeiou (©0UKu8t8r|c, 3.116). Ent- pdXXovTac, Tn.v peTaKtvn.crr| tou nXn.9ucrpou ano Tn.v Ka- 85 4 AITNA/CATAN A: LEONTINQI: SYRACUSE: Fig. 38 Feeling insecure in Syracuse, Hieron quickly moved to Catana, which he renamed Aitna (476/5 BC), pos- sibly in conjunction with a major eruption of the vol- cano (Thuc. 3.116). Forcing the population of Cat- ana (and Naxos) to move to Leontinoi, he filled his new capital Aitna/Catana with people partly from Syracuse partly from the Peloponnese (Diod. 11.49, Strab. 6.268, Pind. Fr. 71 [To Hieron of Syracuse]). Soon after (474 BC), Hieron defeated the Etruscan fleet at Cumae (near Naples) and enjoyed some years of peace. We know that Hieron succeeded in attracting many artists to his court there: Pindar and Aischylos, who wrote a play entitled "Women of Aitna", for sure, but also Bacchylides and Simonides. When Pindar deliv- ered his Pythian ode for him, after he was declared the winner at the chariot-race of 470 BC in Delphoi, Hieron was expressly called "Hieron of Aitna" (Pind. Pyth., I). We may perhaps remember that it was his brother Polyzalos, tyrant of Gela, who won the quad- riga race at the Delphic games in 474 BC and offered the famous charioteer of Delphoi. Hieron himself left his mark in Greece: the Archaeological Museum of Olympia does possess a Corinthian helmet with a dedication from him to Zeus (c. 474 BC?). Elk. 38 t&vn (kou in Nd£o) cttouc, AeovTivouc,, enokncre in vea tou npoyreuoucra AiTva/Kaiavn |ie nXr]6uCTpo ev pepei ano tic; XupaKoucrec, kou ev pepei ano inv neXonovvncro (AioSco- poc, o ZiKeXicoinc, 11.49, Zip&Pcdvac, 6.268, nivSapoc,, Fr. 71 [Iepcovi ZvpccKovmo]). Aiyo apyoiepa (474 n.X.) o Iepco- vac, viKncre xov eipoucTKiKO cttoXo crrnv Kupn (kovtcx cttt] N&noXn) kou anoXaucre pepiKd xpovia eipr]vn.c,. Eivai yvcocTio oil o Iepcovac, neTuxe va npocreXKUcrei noXXouc, KaXXnexvec, crrnv auXr) tou: tov nivSapo kou tov AictxuXo, o onoioc, eypav|»e eva epyo pe titXo «Anvaiai», KaGcoc, entonc, Kai tov BoucxuXiSn Kai tov ZipcoviSrp Ztov nuGioviKO nou eypav|»e yia eKeivov o nivSapoc, upvcovTac, rn viKn tou cTTnv appaToSpopia tou 470 n.X. cttouc, AeX- c|>ouc„ o Iepcovac, anoKaXeirai pnrcoc, «0 Iepcov Tnc, AiTvac,» (nivSapoc,, TJv9. 1). Ac, unevGupicroupe oti o aSeXcpoc, tou noXu(aXoc„ Tupavvoc, Tnc, TeXac,, eixe viKr]CTei CTTnv appa- ToSpopia pe TeGpinno cttouc, AeXcfMKOuc, aycovec, to 474 jt.X. Kai eixe acfnepcoCTei tov nepic|>r]po nvioxo tov AeXcpcov. O iSioc, o Iepcovac, exei ac|>r]CTei to ixvoc, tou CTTnv EXXd- 8a: to ApxaioXoyiKO Moucreio tv\c, OXupniac, SiaGeTei pia Kopiv0iaKr| nepiKec|>aXaia pe Sikt] tou acfHepcoCTn. cttov Aia (nep. 474 n.X.). Me to GdvaTO tou Iepcova to 466/5 n.X., oi onaSoi tou eK8iwx8tlKav aTT° Trlv AiTva/KaTdvn. Kai o yn,yevr]c, nXti- Bucrpoc,, nou eixe eKcSicoxQei ano Tnv KaTdvn. cttouc, Abovti- vouc,, enecrrpev|»e CTTnv naTpiSa tou. TvupiCpupe oti cttouc, Fig. 38 Map of Sicily (created by Steven Soetens) Eik. 38 Xdpirn; jr\q ZiKgXiat; (oxeSiaor] Steven Soetens) 86 But, with the death of Hieron in 466/5 BC, his partisans were expelled from Aitna/Catana and the original population deported from Catana to Leon- tinoi returned home. We know that Hieron's sup- porters were allowed to settle at Inessa (nowadays Santa Maria di Licodi, c. 15 km NW of Catana), which they renamed Aitna. The last Deinomenid, Thrasyboulos, died soon after and, in 461 BC, the sons of Anaxilas were expelled from Zancle/Messi- na, putting a (temporary) end to tyranny in Sicily (Diod. 11.76). It has sometimes been suggested in the past that "such a superb coin" (Ashmole 1934: 110) as the Brussels tetradrachm must have been struck to commemorate the foundation of the new city, i.e. in 476 BC or a little after. Both E. Boehringer and B. Ashmole even assumed that it was natural to em- ploy the engraver who produced the magnificent "Demareteion" for Syracuse. In the same vein, it is tempting, as C. Gaspar did, to imagine that Pindar received such a tetradrachm as a prize for his ode when he came in 470 BC. This is not the most pru- dent approach to the conduct of historical research. The discovery after the World War II of another unique tetradrachm of Aitna, of much more archaic appearance and common type, severely undermined such hypotheses. Date The date of the Brussels tetradrachm of Aitna is usually linked to the short span of time - a dec- ade (476/5-466/5 BC) - during which Hieron was based in Catana, now called Aitna. However, it may even have been struck sometime after the death of Hieron by his supporters now based in Inessa. The evidence at our disposal invites us to place the Brussels tetradrachm late in the sequence around c. 470-465 BC. The main reason for such a date stems from an- other unique tetradrachm of Aitna, now in pri- vate hands, which fails to be as remarkable as the Brussels one since it is not very well preserved or engraved and since its types are more classical: a quadriga driven by Athena on the obverse and a seated Zeus (called here Aitnaios) on the reverse. It is very likely that this coin was issued before the one with Silenos. Rich stylistic parallels have been made with Syracuse, as well as Leontinoi, for the obverse or with Taras for the reverse. It is worth- while to recall that, about the same time, Syracuse and Leontinoi shared at least one obverse die, so that the idea of a unique mint working for different cities cannot be formally discarded. On the other hand, a similar head of Silenos of reduced size appears on small silver litrae (c. 0.60g) struck in Aitna (no. 4 in the catalogue, fig. 41) as unocrrnpiKTec, tou Iepwva eneipdnn va KaToiKr]crouv crrnv Ivncrcra (in crtipepivr] Santa Maria di Licodi, nep. 15 popeioSuTiK& inc, Kaidvnc,), Tnv onoia ovopacrav AiTva. O TeXeuTaioc, AeivopeviSnc,, o ©pacruPouXoc,, ne0ave Xiyo apyoiepa kou to 461 n.X. oi uioi tou Ava^iXa eK5iw)(0n.Kav ano Tn ZdyKXn/Mecrcrr]vn., 0eTOVTac, eva (npocrwpivo) Te- Xoc, crTnv TupavviSa crTn ZiKeXia (AioSwpoc, o ZiKeXiwTnc, 11.76). 'Exei npoTaGei kcxt& to napeX06v oti eva «tctoio e£o- Xo vopicrpa» (Ashmole 1934: 110), onwc, to TeTp&Spax|io twv Bpu^eXXwv, 0a npenei va Konntce yia va eopTacrrei Kai Ti|in6ei n iSpucrn. Tnc, veac, noXnc,, mo cruyKeKpipeva to 476 n.X. v\ Xiyo apyoTepa. Tocro o E. Boehringer ocro Kai o B. Ashmole exouv 0ewpr]crei ((mjctiko va eixe npocrXn.(|>0ei o iSioc, x«p«KTnc, nou ec|ma£;e to unepoxo «An.papeTeiov» twv ZupaKoucrwv. Zto iSio nveupa, 0a pnopoucre va 0ew- pr]crei Kdnoioc,, onwc, etcave o C. Gaspar, oti o nivSapoc, eXa^e eva tctoio TeTpdSpaxpo wc, ^pa^eio yia Tnv wSr] nou cruve0ecre to 470 n.X. Octtocto, auToc, Sev eivai o mo acr(|>aXr|c, Tponoc, Sie£aywyr]c, Tnc, icrropiKr|c, epeuvac,. H avaKdXuv|»r] peTd to B' nayKocrpio noXepo evoc, dXXou |iovaSiKou TeTpdSpaxpou ano Tnv AiTva, mo apxaii<r]c; epc|>dvicrr]c, tcai koivou Tunou, evicrxuei crr|pavTiKd auTr| Tn.v dnov)»r|- H xpovoA6yr)ar] H xpovoX6yn.crn. tou TeTpdSpaxpou tt|c, AiTvac, tt|c, cruX- Xoyr|c, twv Bpu^eXXwv exei cruv8e0ei peT eniTdcrewc, pe Trj cruvTopn. nepioSo - pia SeKaeTia (476/5-466/5 n.X.) - KaTd Tn.v onoia o Iepwvac, eyKaTacrTd0r|Ke CTTn.v KaTdvn., nou ovopdcrrr]Ke AiTva. EvaXXaKTiKd, 0a pnopoucre va eixe Konei aKopn. Kai peTd to 0dvaTO tou Iepwva, ano touc, uno0TrjpiKTec, tou nou peToiKricrav CTTn.v lvn.crcra. Oi ev- Sei^eic, nou exoupe air] 8id0ecrr| pac,, pac, ev0appuvouv va avaydyoupe to TeTpdSpaxpo twv Bpu^eXXwv ere ucrrepn, XpovoXoyiKT| creipd, nepinou yupw ctto 470-465 n.X. O Kupioc, Xoyoc, piac, TeToiac, xpovoXoyn.crn.'; npoepxe- rai ano eva dXXo povaSiKO TeTpdSpaxpo tt|c, AiTvac,, nou Twpa avr]Kei ere iSiwtikti cruXXoyr|, to onoio Sev eivai tocto a^ioXoyo ocro auTO twv Bpu^eXXwv, Ka0wc, Sev eivai outb noXu KaXd SiaTn.pn.pevo, outb cf>epei tocto KaXr| eyxdpa^n., evw oi Tunoi tou eivai mo KXacriKoi: crTn.v epnpocr0ia 6v|»n, avanapicTTaTai n. 0ed A0n.vd va oSn.yei eva Te0pmno Kai crTr|v onicr0ia evac, ev0povoc, Aiac, (tcaXoupevoc, AiTvaioc,). Eivai noXu m0avo auTO to vopicrpa va eKS60r|Ke npiv ano auTO nou cf>epei to ZiXnvo. Exouv yivei noXudpi0poi na- paXXr|Xicrpoi pe tic, ZupaKoucrec, Kai touc, Abovtivouc, wc, npoc, to KaXXiTexviKO v<poq tou epnpocr0OTunou r\ pe tov TdpavTa yia tov omcr06Tuno. A^i(ei va 0upicroupe oti, eKeivn. nepinou Tn.v enoxn, oi ZupaKoucrec, Kai oi AeovTivoi |ioipd(ovTav pia TouXdxicrTov Koivr| pr|Tpa epnpocr06TU- nou, onoTe Sev npenei va anoKXeicrTei TeXeiwc, n. iSea evoc, povaSiKou vopicrpaTOKoneiou nou e^unn.peToucre Siac|>ope- TiKec, noXeic,. Ano Tn.v dXXn. pepid, pia napopoia Kec()aXr| ZiXnvou piKpoTepou peye0ouc, epc()avi(eTai ere pia piKpr] apyupi] XiTpa (nep. 0.60 yp.) nou Konn.Ke crTn.v AiTva (ap. 4 tou Ka- raXoyou, eiK. 41), Ka0wc, Kai crTnv KaTdvn. (dpa peTd to 465 n.X.) (ap. 5 tou KaTaXoyou, eiK. 42), m0avwc, ano tov iSio x«p«KTn.. Autt| n. Siamcrrwcrn. yevvd pia anopia, Ka- 87 Fig. 39 Elk. 39 Fig. 40 Elk. 40 well as in Catana (after 465 BC thus) (no. 5 in the catalogue, fig. 42), possibly by the same engraver. This is puzzling since it may seem odd that former inhabitants of Catana, expelled from their city and coming back in 466/5 BC, decided to strike coins with the new types created by Hieron and his court. Finally, to the same "man of genius" responsible for the Brussels tetradrachm is also attributed an- other remarkable Sicilian issue: the tetradrachms of Naxos depicting Dionysos on the obverse and a drinking (and possibly already drunken!) Silenos on the reverse (nos. 2 & 3 in the catalogue, fig. 39 & 40). As this issue is more securely dated to c. 461 BC (or soon after), the most accepted view is that the Brussels tetradrachm is best placed when the new inhabitants of Aitna/Catana were themselves expelled from the city and allowed to resettle at Inessa, on the slopes of the volcano. Tetradrachm of Naxos: "Coinage was resumed (in Naxos) only after the fall of the tyranny in 461 B.C. with this remarkable issue, one of the greatest mas- terpieces of Greek coinage and Greek art in general. The head of the obverse reflects the monumental- ity of early classical art and the reverse is a daring representation, both in subject and in technique, of the human body in a complicated position, beauti- fully contained within the narrow circumference of the flan. The artist is thought to be the same as that of the later tetradrachm of Ait n a that has survived only in the unique example with the Silenos head in Brussels. There is no doubt about the date of this issue: the Naxians had been moved to Leontinoi by Hieron in 476 B.C. and returned home in 461 B.C. 9wc, eivai napdc;evo to oti oi nponyoupevoi k&toikoi inc, Kaidvnc,, peTd inv etcSi^^r] touc, ano inv noXn touc, tcai inv enicrTpo(|>r| touc, to 466/5 tt.X., ano(|>dmcrav va kov|»ouv vopicrpaTa pe touc, veouc, tuttouc,, ttou Sn|iioupyncrav o Ie- pwvac, kou n auXr] tou. TeXoc,, cttov iSio «iSio(|>ur] x«P«KTn», uneuGuvo yia to TeTpdSpaxpo tov Bpu^eXXwv, anoSiSeTai dXXo eva Zitce- Xiko vopicrpa: to TeTpdSpaxpo Tnc, Nd£ou, nou aneiKovi(ei to Aiovucro CTTnv epnpocrGia kou to ZiXnvo crrnv oracrGia 6v|»n, ere crrdcrr] nocrnc, (kou niGavwc, r]Sn peGucrpevo!) (ap. 2 & 3 tou KorraXoyou, eiK. 39 & 40). KaGwc, auTO to vopicrpa XpovoXoyeiTai pe peyaXuTepn acrc|>dXeia yupw ctto 461 jt.X. (r| Xiyo apyoTepa), n mo anoSeKTr] dnov|»n eivai oti to TeTpdSpaxpo twv Bpu^eXXwv 0a npenei va TonoGeTn- 9ei xpoviKd crrnv nepioSo tcaTd Tnv onoia oi veoi KaToitcoi rnc, AiTvac,/KaTdvnc, eK8iwx8nKav ano Tnv noXn. Kai touc, eneTpdnn. va eyKaTacrraGouv crrnv Tvticrcra, cttic, nXayiec, tou n.((>aicrTeiou. To TeTpdSpaxpo Tnc; Nd£ou: «H vofiiafiaToxoma (urn Ndfy) £avdpxi(T£ fieTa Ttjv muan r//c Tvpawias to 461 n.X., fie avTd to e^aipenxd vdfiiafia, eva and ra fieyaXv- repa apiaTovpyr/fiam Tn<; eXXtjvixr/<; vofiiafiaToxonia<; xat rn<; eXXt]vtxr/<; Texvn<; yevixdTepa. H xe<paXr/ tov efinpo- addmnov avTavaxXd Tt] fivtjfieiaxdTtjTa Tn<; npatfitjc; xXa- atxr/<; Texvn$ xai <jtov oniaddmno vndpxei fi'ta ToXfitjptj anetxdvtatj, Tdao wc npo<; to defia 6ao xat npo<; Ttjv re- Xvtxtj, evdc avdpunivov aufiaTO<; ae fi'ta ovvdein ardan, Oavfidata npoaapfioafievov urn OTevt] nept<pepeta tov vofiiafiaTO<;. Tliaieveiai oti o xaXXtTexvtjc; eivai o iSto<; fie exe'ivov tov mo voTepov TeTpdSpaxfiov Tn<; A'nvac;, nov 8iaad>(eTai am fiovaSixd vdfiiafia nov (pepet xe<paXtj Zt- Xtjvov otic; Bpv£eXXe<;. Aev vndpxei xafi'ia afupifioX'ia yia Tt] xpovoXoynan avmv tov vofiiafiaTO<;: oi Ndfyot fieTaxt- VYjdnxav amv<; AeovTivov<; to 476 n.X. and tov Iepcova xat eneaTpexj/av aTtjv naTpiSa tov<; to 461 n.X. TiopTaaav Ttjv avdxTtjat] Tn<; eXev9epia<; tov<; fie avTO to veo vdfiiafia. Me Fig. 42 Elk. 42 Fig. 41 Elk. 41 Fig. 39 Silver tetradrachm of Naxos, c. 460 BC Fig. 40 Silver tetradrachm of Naxos, c. 460 BC Fig. 41 Silver litra of Aitna, c. 465 BC (1:3,5) Fig. 42 Silver litra of Catana, c. 460 BC (1:3,5) Elk. 39 Apyupo t£Tpti5pax|iov int; Nti£;ou, tt. 460 it.X. Elk. 40 Apyupo t£Tpti5pax|iov int; Nti£;ou, tt. 460 it.X. Elk. 41 Apyupq Xiipa jr\q Aiivat;, tt. 465 tt.X. (1:3,5) Elk. 42 Apyupq Xiipa jr\q Kaitivrit;, tt. 460 tt.X. (1:3,5) 88 They celebrated their recovered freedom with this new coinage. With this issue the Naxians achieved the highest quality not only artistically but also in the manufacture of the dies" (Arnold-Biucchi 1990: 29). Artists and engraver Although it is very likely that die-cutters were skilled artisans, much in demand and thus working for different employers at a time when mints were not active on a regular basis, modern scholars have generally preferred to ignore this basic assumption. The "Master of Aitna" does not escape this state- ment, even if he has been credited with two of the most spectacular issues of Greek coinages (Aitna and Naxos). Both issues display images of Silenos (on the ob- verse for Aitna, no. 1 in the catalogue, and on the reverse for Naxos, nos. 2 & 3 in the catalogue) as well as bearded heads crowned by ivy wreaths and an attraction for muscular bodies. Two remarkable facts distinguish these types from all the others produced around the same type: a. the long beard which goes further than the dotted border and b. the wavy truncation of the neck. We are dealing here with an artist who was not afraid to break the artistic conventions of his time. The conjunction of these two remarkable devices points firmly to a single "artist", who was in any case responsible for the types. But was he also responsible for the engravings? The answer to this question has been specifically explored in a recent article with no firm conclusion (Callatay 2004). avTtj Tt] vea exSoatj oi Ndfyoi enervxccv Ttjv vxj/nXoTepn JTOlOTtJTa firjTpCOV, TOGO KCtXXlTEXVlKa 6<JO KCU KCCTaaKEVCC- aTiKd» (Arnold-Biucchi 1990: 29). Ot KaXXttexve^ xat o xapai<Tr)<^ Eivai noXu niGavo oil oi xap&Kiec, |inxpwv r\iav eiSiKeu- |ievoi Texvfrec, |ie peydXn J^incrr], Kai wc, etc toutou epya- (opevoi ere Siac|>opeTiKouc, epyoSoiec,, ere nepioSouc, tcaia tic, onoiec, xa vopicrpaTOKoneia Sev Xerroupyoucrav ere crra- 9epr] p&crn. Ocrrocro, oi cruyxpovoi peXeinxec, yeviKwc, npo- Tipouv va ayvoouv auTt] in PacriKr] dnov|»n. O «Xap&KTnc, inc, AiTvac,» Sev £ec|>euyei ano auTt] inv &nov|»n, napoXo jtou exei nicriwOei pe Suo ano xa nio a£io9au|iacrra vo- liicrpaia inc, eXXnviKr|c, vopicrpaiiKric, (inc, Aiivac, Kai inc, Nd^ou). A|i(|>6Tepa xa vopicrpaia aneiKovi(ouv [loptyeq tou Zi- Xnvou (crinv epnpocrGia 6v|»n ere eKeivo inc, Aiivac,, ap. 1 tou KaiaXoyou, Kai crinv onicrGia ere eKeivo inc, Na£ou, ap. 2 Kai 3 tou KaiaXoyou), KaGwc, Kai yeveioc()6pec, Ke^aXec, crTec()avwpevec, pe oietyavia Kicrcrou Kai Seixvouv pia npo- Tipncrn crra puwSn crwpaia. Oi 8uo auioi xunoi 8iac()epouv ere 8uo a^ionpocreKia crnpeia ano dXXouc, napopoiouc,: a. in paKpid yeveidSa nou e£exei ano to cttikto nepiypappa Kai p. inv KupaioeiSr] anoXn^n tou Xaipou. E8w exoupe va Kdvoupe pe evav KaXXnexvn nou Sev tyofioiav va crndcrei tic, KaXXiTexviKec, crupPdcreic, Tnc, enoxnc, tou. O cruvSua- crpoc, auTwv twv Suo a^iocrnpeiwTwv emvor|crewv Seixvei ^eKdOapa evav Kai povo «KaXXiTexvn», nou r|Tav ere Kd0e nepinTwcrn uneuGuvoc, yia touc, Tunouc,.'HTav, opwc,, uneu- Buvoc, Kai yia tic, eyxapd^eic,; H andvTncrn ere auTO to epw- rnpa exei Siepeuvn6ei Sie^oSiKd ere eva np6cr(()aTO dpGpo, Xwpic, cra(|>ec, crupnepacrpa (Callatay 2004). Jose-Maria de Heredia, Antique Medal (Les Trophies, 1893) L'Etna murit toujours la pourpre et l'or du vin Dont l'Erigone antique enivra Theocrite ; Mais celles dont la grace en ses vers fut ecrite, Le poete aujourd'hui les chercherait en vain. Perdant la purete de son profil divin, Tour a tour Arethuse esclave et favorite A mele dans sa veine ou le sang grec s'irrite La fureur sarrasine a l'orgueil angevin. Le temps passe. Tout meurt. Le marbre meme s'use. Agrigente n'est plus qu'une ombre, et Syracuse Dort sous le bleu liceul de son ciel indulgent ; Et seul le dur metal que l'amour fit docile Garde encore en sa fleur, aux medailles d'argent, L'immortelle beaute des vierges de Sicile. 89