Language:
English
Year of publication:
2020
Titel der Quelle:
Israel Numismatic Research
Angaben zur Quelle:
15 (2020) 147-164
Keywords:
Perseus Art
;
Heracles Art
;
Coins, Ancient
;
Eretz Israel Antiquities, Roman
;
Acre (Israel)
Abstract:
The article examines the representations of Heracles and Perseus on ‘Akko-Ptolemais coins. Perseus’ presence, known only from coins, finds support in a myth mentioning Andromeda’s parents’ kinship to Agenor’s house and by the local identification of the river-god Belus with Andromeda’s grandfather, Belus. Perseus and Andromeda’s marriage scene (unique) was adopted from a similar scene in Tyre (Cadmus and Harmonia). The unique coin-type of Heracles — Perseus’ descendant — receiving a medicinal plant, which resembles the Hydra, from Belus, perpetuated Heracles’ bond to Phoenicia and publicized ‘Akko as a healing-center. The scenes, attesting to kinship between Greeks and Phoenicians, proclaim ‘Akko’s proud identity.
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