Reconsidering the Interpretation and Dating of Ancient Coins: the case of Bronze Coins from Dodona in the Name of Menedemos Argeades

Year 2016, Volume: 13, 127 - 148, 15.05.2016

Atalante Betsiou

https://doi.org/10.37095/gephyra.318439

Abstract

In the sanctuary of
Dodona a series of bronze coins were minted in the name of ΜΕΝΕΔΗΜΟΣ ΑΡΓΕΑΔΗΣ
ΙΕΡΕΥΣ (PRIEST MENEDEMOS ARGEADES). The iconography of this substantial coinage
follows the traditional types struck by the Epirote mints, such as Dodonaios
Zeus and his eagle, Artemis and her attributes (arrow and quiver). Franke, the
first scholar who studied them, from historical events proposed a date in the
period 168-148 B.C.

In this paper a new
chronological date for these coins is proposed, from style, epigraphic and the
metrological observations, combined with the ancient sources. Specifically, the
style of these issues echoes the types of silver denarii minted during the late
republican period. The bust of Dodonaios Zeus bears a resemblance to the
relevant type of Roman denarii of Lucius Staius Murcus (42-41 B.C.) and the
hairstyle of Artemis to Dianaʼs as the latter is depicted on the silver coins
of Gaius Hosidius Geta (68 B.C.), and mainly of Caesar’s followers, Gaius
Antius Restio (47 B.C.) and Titus Carisius (46 B.C). In the Augustan era, this
hairstyle for Diana is abandoned.

For research, a
puzzling issue concerns the denominational system of the heavy bronze coins,
which were applied to the Greek mints, as the type C of the series of Dodona.
Burnett observed the distribution of this practice during the Second Civil War,
which he attributed to the Roman officers of Marcus Junius Brutus, Marcus
Antonius and Gaius Octavius. Nevertheless, Kremydi-Sicilianou concluded, by
examining the monetary production of Dion, that Julius Caesar was the
mastermind behind the foundation of the Roman colony (Colonia Felix Diensis),
although it was established after his assassination. Another colony founded by
Julius Caesar, was Colonia Iulia Felix Sinope, where this new monetary system
was also applied.

The omission of the
ethnikon on Dodona’s bronze coins is unique in Greek numismatics. Franke first
linked the name Argeades to the royal dynasty of Macedonia. The extent of the
inscription is reminiscent of those on the coins of the Macedonian kings from
the time of Alexander the Great and his successors. The mysterious identity of
Menedemos Argeades seems to unfold through lines in Caesar’s Civil War and
Ciceroʼs in correspondence. In a passage in the Civil Wars, Caesar made a
reference to Menedemos, princeps of Macedonia libera, as an ally of his. However,
Cicero provided crucial data related to Menedemos and Petraeosʼ activity in
political strife. According to his narration, both became intimate followers of
Caesar and both were granted the privilege of Roman citizenship. During
Caesar’s autocracy, the Thessalian league minted silver and bronze coins in the
name of (strategos) Petraeos, while Menedemos contributed financially to the
sanctuary of Dodona for the emission of these bronze issues. He proudly
presented himself as priest of Dodonaios Zeus and descent of the royal branch
of Argeades reflecting the morale of his era.

His political
activity did not continue for long. A year after the brutal assassination of
Caesar, he was executed together with Petraeos by Marcus Junius Brutus.

Keywords

style of roman denarii, heavy bronze coins, omission of ethnicon, Caesar, Menedemos Argeades, Civil Wars

Antik Sikkelerin Yorumlanmasını ve Tarihlenmesini Yeniden Ele Almak: Menedemos Argeades Adına Basılan Dodona Sikkeleri

Abstract

Dodona’daki
tapınakta ΜΕΝΕΔΗΜΟΣ ΑΡΓΕΑΔΗΣ ΙΕΡΕΥΣ (RAHİP MENEDEMOS ARGEADES) adına
basılan bir dizi bronz sikke bulunmuştur. Bu önemli sikkelerin ikonografisi
Zeus Dodo­naios ve kartalı, Artemis ve onun sembolleri (ok ve sadak) gibi
geleneksel Apeiros (Epirus) baskı tiplerini yansıtmaktadır. Bunları ilk çalışan
bilim insanı Franke, sikkeler için tarihsel veriler doğrultusunda İ. S. 168-148
arasını önermiştir. Bu makalede, stil, epigrafik ve metrolojik gözlemlerin
antik kaynaklarla karşılaştırılması neticesinde bu sikkeler için yeni bir
kronoloji sunulmaktadır. Özellikle, bu baskıların stillerinin Geç Cumhuriyet
Dönemi’nde basılan gümüş denarii tiplerine benzediği
görülmektedir. Zeus Dodonaios büstü, Lucius Staius Murcus’un (İ. Ö. 42-41)
ilgili Roma denarius tiplerine ve Artemis’in saç tipi de Gaius
Hosidius Geta’nın (İ. Ö. 68) ve temel olarak, Caesar’ın yandaşları olan Gaius
Antius Restio’nun (İ. Ö. 47) ve Titus Carisius’un (İ. Ö. 46) gümüş sikkelerinde
betimlenen Diana’nın saç tipine benzemektedir. Augustus Dönemi’nde Diana’nın bu
saç tipi terkedilmiştir.

Bu araştırma için
kafa karıştırıcı bir durum, Dodona serisinin C tipi gibi, ağır bronz sikkelerin
Yunan baskılarına uygulanan sınıfsal sistemi ile ilgilidir. Burnett, Romalı
subaylar Marcus Junius Brutus, Marcus Antonius ve Gaius Octavius’a atfettiği bu
uygulamanın dağılımını, İkinci İç Savaş sürecinde gözlemlemiştir. Bununla
beraber, Kremydi-Sicilianou, Dion’un parasal üretimini inceleyerek, Roma
kolonisi Colonia Felix Diensis’in kuruluşunun arkasındaki fikir babasının – bu
kuruluş onun öldürülmesinden sonra gerçekleşmiş olsa bile – Julius Caesar
olduğu sonucuna ulaşmıştır. Julius Caesar tarafından kurulan diğer bir koloni
de yeni para sisteminin uygulandığı Colonia Iulia Felix Sinope idi.

Dodona’daki bronz sikkelerde
ethnikon görünmemesi Yunan nümizmatiğinde tekil bir durumdur. Franke, Argeades
ismini Makedonya’nın kraliyet hanedanlığı ile ilişkilendirmektedir. Yazıtın
yayılı­mı, Büyük İskender ve ardıllarının dönemlerindeki Makedonya kralları
tarafından basılan sikkeler üzerindekileri anımsatmaktadır. Menedemos
Argeades’in gizemli kimliği, Caesar’ın İç Savaş kitabının ve Cicero’nun
mektuplarının satırlarından ortaya çıkarılabilmektedir. İç Savaşlar’ın bir
bölümünde Caesar, Macedonia libera princeps’i Menedemos’a kendi
müttefiki olarak referans vermektedir. Bununla beraber, Cicero Menedemos ve
Petraios’un politik çatışmalardaki rollerine ilişkin çok önemli bir bilgi
vermektedir. Onun anlatımına göre, her ikisi de Caesar’ın sadık yandaşları ol­muşlardır
ve Roma vatandaşlığı ile ödüllendirilmişlerdir. Caesar’ın otokrasisi esnasında
Thessalia Birliği (strategos) Patraios adına gümüş ve bronz sikkeler basmış,
Menedemos ise bu bronz sikkelerin baskılarının piyasa sürümü için Dodona
Tapınağı’na para yardımında bulunmuştur. Kendisini gururla Zeus Dodonaios
rahibi ve Argeades kraliyet soyuna ait göstererek döneminin anlayışını
yansıtmaktadır.

Onun politik
etkinliği uzun sürmemiştir. Caesar’ın öldürülmesinden bir yıl sonra, Marcus
Junius Brutus tarafından Petraios ile birlikte idam edilmiştir.

Keywords

Roma denarius stili, ağır bronz sikkeler, ethnikonsuzluk, Caesar, Menedemos Argeades, İç Savaşlar

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