Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 126 - Session 2 . 529
The Beniak Collection of Alexandrian Coinage
Category
EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. BI Tetradrachm (25mm, 13.08 g, 12h). Dated RY 11 (AD 147/8). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Apollo Didymeus standing left, holding stag in left hand and bow in right; L ЄNΔЄ KATOV (date) around. Köln 1564 var. (legend arrangement); Dattari (Savio) 2145; K&G 35.387; RPC IV.4 1033; Emmett 1359.9 (year unrecorded). Toned, porosity, spots of verdigris. VF. Very rare. From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Holyland Numismatics, 28 April 2012.The cult center of Apollo Didymeus near Miletos achieved a high level of fame throughout the ancient world. The 26th Dynasty pharaoh Necho II (610-595 BC) won two great battles in Syria, and dedicated his armor to the shrine of Apollo (Herodotus ii, 159). Its oracle was second in popularity only to that of Delphi. His influence played a significant role in initiating Diocletian's persecution of the Christians in the fourth century. His popularity continued until 314 when Constantine I declared Christianity the only official religion of the Roman empire. The temple of the Oracle at Dydima was sacked and its pagan priests tortured–many to their deaths. Soon after, a Christian church was built on its foundation.
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