Tralleis was a city in Lydia. According to Strabo, it was founded by the Argives and Trallians. Along with the rest of Lydia, the city fell to the Persian Empire. After its success against Athens in the Peloponnesian War, Sparta unsuccessfully sought to take the city from the Persians, but in 334 BC, Tralles surrendered to Alexander the Great without resistance and therefore was not sacked.
Tralles was a conventus for a time under the Roman Republic, but Ephesus later took over that position. The city was taken by rebels during the Mithridatic War during which many Roman inhabitants were killed. Tralles suffered greatly from an earthquake in 26 BC. Augustus provided funds for its reconstruction after which the city thanked him by renaming itself Caesarea.
Strabo describes the city as a prosperous trading center, listing famous residents of the city, including Pythodoros, and orators Damasus Scombrus and Dionysocles. Several centuries later, Anthemius of Tralles, architect of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, was born in Tralles.
Tralles was a conventus for a time under the Roman Republic, but Ephesus later took over that position. The city was taken by rebels during the Mithridatic War during which many Roman inhabitants were killed. Tralles suffered greatly from an earthquake in 26 BC. Augustus provided funds for its reconstruction after which the city thanked him by renaming itself Caesarea.
Strabo describes the city as a prosperous trading center, listing famous residents of the city, including Pythodoros, and orators Damasus Scombrus and Dionysocles. Several centuries later, Anthemius of Tralles, architect of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, was born in Tralles.
Modern location: Aydin, Turkey
(1)
Tralleis
Obverse: laureate head of Zeus right
Reverse: humped bull left; TPAΛΛI / ANΩN, (ΠΩΛ)
Diameter:
13 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.45 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.45 g
No notes for this coin
BMC 63; SNG TÜBINGEN 3866; SNG KOP 28 669
(2)
Tralleis
An
AR
Cistophorus
struck 133-126 BC
in
Tralleis
Obverse: cista mystica with snake, all in ivy wreath
Reverse: coiled snakes, flanking ornamented bow-case; Dionysos on the right, holding thyrsos and grapes; TPAΛ / ΠTOΛ
Diameter:
25.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 12.8 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 12.8 g
No notes for this coin
SNG Cop 662-663var (Datum), BMC 332.44