Aphrodisias was a small ancient Greek Hellenistic city in Caria. It was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, who had here her unique cult image, the Aphrodite of Aphrodisias.
White and blue grey Carian marble was extensively quarried from adjacent slopes in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, for building facades and sculptures. Marble sculptures and sculptors from Aphrodisias became famous in the Roman world.
It was destroyed by earthquake in the early 7th century, and never recovered its former prosperity, being reduced to a small fortified settlement on the site of the ancient theatre. Around the same time, it was also renamed to Stauropolis (Greek: Σταυροῡπολις, "city of the Cross") to remove pagan connotations, but already by the 8th century it was known as Caria after the region, which later gave rise to its modern Turkish name, Geyre.
White and blue grey Carian marble was extensively quarried from adjacent slopes in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, for building facades and sculptures. Marble sculptures and sculptors from Aphrodisias became famous in the Roman world.
It was destroyed by earthquake in the early 7th century, and never recovered its former prosperity, being reduced to a small fortified settlement on the site of the ancient theatre. Around the same time, it was also renamed to Stauropolis (Greek: Σταυροῡπολις, "city of the Cross") to remove pagan connotations, but already by the 8th century it was known as Caria after the region, which later gave rise to its modern Turkish name, Geyre.
Modern location: Geyre, Turkey
(1)
Augustus
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An
AE
unit
struck 37-41 AD
in
Aphrodisias
Obverse: ΘEOΣ ΣEBAΣTOΣ, Head of Divus Augustus facing right, wearing laurel wreath
Reverse: AΦPOΔIΣIEΩN, Cult statue of Aphrodite
Diameter:
20 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 4.65 g
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 4.65 g
Minted under Caligula
RPC I 2844
(2)
Caligula
An
AE
unit
struck 37-41 AD
in
Aphrodisias
Obverse: laureate head right; ΓAIOΣ__KAIΣAP
Reverse: diademed head of Aphrodite right; AΦPOΔI_ΣIEΩN
Diameter:
16 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4 g
No notes for this coin
RPC I 2845; BMC 97-8.
(3)
Gallienus
An
AE
unit
struck 253-268 AD
in
Aphrodisias
Obverse: Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust left from behind; ΑV ΚΑΙ ΠΟ ΛI ΓΑΛΛΙΗΝΟC
Reverse: Radiate emperor riding right on horse, throwing spear, holding reins; A_Φ_P_O_Δ_I / CIEΩ_N
Diameter:
23 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4.9 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 4.9 g
No notes for this coin
BMC 140; MacDonald pg. 145f., Type 225, pl. XXVI, O263a and pl. XXVII, R506
(4)
Salonina
An
AE
unit
struck 254-268 AD
in
Aphrodisias
Obverse: Diademed and draped bust with crescent right; IOY KOPN_CAΛΩNINA
Reverse: Tyche standing half left, wearing kalathos, long garment and mantle, holding rudder and cornucopia; AΦPOΔE_ICIEΩN
Diameter:
22 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.3 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.3 g
No notes for this coin
MacDonald Type 233; SNG von Aulock 2472