Research Article

A Numismatic Riddle from Arykanda: The God of the Water Spring

Number: 23 November 15, 2020
  • Ahmet Tolga Tek *
  • Hacer Sancaktar
EN

A Numismatic Riddle from Arykanda: The God of the Water Spring

Abstract

Among the coin types minted for Arykanda under Emperor Gordianus III, there is a new reverse type depicting Kakasbos wearing military attire and a Thracian helmet. His club is lowered, and he is holding the reins of his horse which stands next to him. On Kakasbos’s right the horse with its right front hoof is striking a rock from which water flows. The iconography is new for Kakasbos and has never been seen before. In fact, he is always shown riding his horse with his club raised to strike. This article explains why this is an image of Kakasbos and not some other deity. It uses other archaeological finds - epigraphic and iconographic - found during the excavations at Arykanda. The authors also identify the water source meant on the coin type and the cult area that existed next to it at Suyun Gözü, the main source of the Arykandos River.

Keywords

Thanks

We would like to thank M. Tekinalp, director of the Arykanda excavations; the staff of the Antalya Archaeology Museum, especially the curators of the coin collection; C.S. Lightfoot; and Ö.C. Taşpınar for their invaluable help during the preparation of this work.

References

  1. Ant. Lib. Met., Antoninus Liberalis, The Metamorphoses of Antoninus Liberalis with an English translation by F. Celoria. 1992. London/New York: Routledge.
  2. Aratus Phaen., Callimachus, Lycophron, Aratus. Hymns and Epigrams. Lycophron: Alexandra. Aratus: Phaenomena. Translated by A.W. Mair and G.R. Mair. 1921. The Loeb Classical Library 129. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
  3. Hyginus Astronomica Hyginus, Hygini Astronomica, edited by B. Bunte. 1875. Wiegel: Leipzig.
  4. Nonnos, Dionysiaca, Nonnos, Dionysiaca, Vol. 3, books 36-48, H.J. Rose and L.R. Rind, 1942. The Loeb Classical Library 356. Cambridge/London: Harvard University Press.
  5. Ovid. Fasti, Publius Ovidius Naso, Fasti (I-VI) Roma Takvimi ve Festivaller. Translated by A.C. Abuagla 2016. Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Yayınları.
  6. Ovid. Met., Ovidius, Ovid Metamorphoses, F.J. Miller, Vols. 3-4. Revised by G.P. Goold. The Loeb Classical Library 42. 2005. Cambridge, Mass./London: Harvard University Press.
  7. Paus. Pausanias, Description of Greece with an English translation by W.H. Jones, Vol. 1; 3-4; W.H. Jones and H.A. Ormerod, Vol. 2; R.E. Wycherley, Vol. 5 (Illustrations and Index). New York 1918-2004. The Loeb Classical Library: Harvard University Press.
  8. Plin. Nat. Hist., Plinius the Elder, Pliny, Natural History, Vol. 2, Libri 3-7 ed. H. Rackham, Cambridge MA and London, 1961. The Loeb Classical Library: Harvard University Press.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Archaeology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ahmet Tolga Tek * This is me
0000-0002-3893-6256
Türkiye

Hacer Sancaktar This is me
0000-0003-3268-7890
Türkiye

Publication Date

November 15, 2020

Submission Date

December 31, 2019

Acceptance Date

March 2, 2020

Published in Issue

Year 2020 Number: 23

APA
Tek, A. T., & Sancaktar, H. (2020). A Numismatic Riddle from Arykanda: The God of the Water Spring. Adalya, 23, 312-340. https://doi.org/10.47589/adalya.837983
AMA
1.Tek AT, Sancaktar H. A Numismatic Riddle from Arykanda: The God of the Water Spring. Adalya. 2020;(23):312-340. doi:10.47589/adalya.837983
Chicago
Tek, Ahmet Tolga, and Hacer Sancaktar. 2020. “A Numismatic Riddle from Arykanda: The God of the Water Spring”. Adalya, nos. 23: 312-40. https://doi.org/10.47589/adalya.837983.
EndNote
Tek AT, Sancaktar H (November 1, 2020) A Numismatic Riddle from Arykanda: The God of the Water Spring. Adalya 23 312–340.
IEEE
[1]A. T. Tek and H. Sancaktar, “A Numismatic Riddle from Arykanda: The God of the Water Spring”, Adalya, no. 23, pp. 312–340, Nov. 2020, doi: 10.47589/adalya.837983.
ISNAD
Tek, Ahmet Tolga - Sancaktar, Hacer. “A Numismatic Riddle from Arykanda: The God of the Water Spring”. Adalya. 23 (November 1, 2020): 312-340. https://doi.org/10.47589/adalya.837983.
JAMA
1.Tek AT, Sancaktar H. A Numismatic Riddle from Arykanda: The God of the Water Spring. Adalya. 2020;:312–340.
MLA
Tek, Ahmet Tolga, and Hacer Sancaktar. “A Numismatic Riddle from Arykanda: The God of the Water Spring”. Adalya, no. 23, Nov. 2020, pp. 312-40, doi:10.47589/adalya.837983.
Vancouver
1.Ahmet Tolga Tek, Hacer Sancaktar. A Numismatic Riddle from Arykanda: The God of the Water Spring. Adalya. 2020 Nov. 1;(23):312-40. doi:10.47589/adalya.837983

Submission Date for ADALYA

Manuscript submissions for the 29th issue of Adalya (2026) will be accepted between Wednesday, 1 October 2025, and Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

Please submit your articles to the email address adalya@ku.edu.tr. Submissions via post or courier will not be accepted. All submissions must be received by the end of March.