Aspendos was an ancient Greco-Roman city in Pamphylia. The site is located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) northeast of central Serik.
According to later tradition, Aspendos was founded rather earlier by Greeks who may have come from Argos. The wide range of its coinage throughout the ancient world indicates that, in the 5th century BC, Aspendos had become the most important city in Pamphylia. At that time, according to Thucydides, the Eurymedon River was navigable as far as Aspendos, and the city derived great wealth from a trade in salt, oil and wool.
In 190 BC the city surrendered to the Romans, and the corrput magistrate Verres later pillaged its artistic treasures. It was ranked by Philostratus the third city of Pamphylia, and in Byzantine times seems to have been known as Primopolis. Toward the end of the Roman period the city began a decline that continued throughout Byzantine times, although in medieval times it was evidently still a strong place.
According to later tradition, Aspendos was founded rather earlier by Greeks who may have come from Argos. The wide range of its coinage throughout the ancient world indicates that, in the 5th century BC, Aspendos had become the most important city in Pamphylia. At that time, according to Thucydides, the Eurymedon River was navigable as far as Aspendos, and the city derived great wealth from a trade in salt, oil and wool.
In 190 BC the city surrendered to the Romans, and the corrput magistrate Verres later pillaged its artistic treasures. It was ranked by Philostratus the third city of Pamphylia, and in Byzantine times seems to have been known as Primopolis. Toward the end of the Roman period the city began a decline that continued throughout Byzantine times, although in medieval times it was evidently still a strong place.
Modern location: Serik, Turkey
(1)
Alexander III
An
AR
Tetradrachm
struck 202-201 B.C.
in
Aspendos
Obverse: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress, Seleukid Anchor cmk on head.
Reverse: AΛEXANΔΡOY / AΣ-IA - Zeus seated left, right leg drawn back, holding eagle and sceptre. AΣ over IA in left field.
Diameter:
33 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 16.1 g
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 16.1 g
Posthumous Issue.
Price 2891; Mueller 1205; Mektepini hoard 560-563.
(2)
Alexander III
An
AR
Tetradrachm
struck 202-201 B.C.
in
Aspendos
Obverse: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress.
Reverse: AΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ - Zeus seated left, holding eagle and sceptre. Oval countermark of Seleukid anchor in right field. AΣ over K-cornucopiae-archaic X in left field.
Diameter:
30 mm
Die Orientation: 10 H
Weight: 15.67 g
Die Orientation: 10 H
Weight: 15.67 g
Posthumous Issue.
Added onto the Wildwinds site.
Price 2909; Tell Kotchek hoard 599-601; Prokesch-Osten 257.
(3)
Aspendos
Obverse: Amphora
Reverse: triskeles, pellet; E_Σ
Diameter:
9 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.9 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.9 g
No notes for this coin
SNG France 14; SNG von Aulock 4485; Traité II 1545
(4)
Aspendos
Obverse: Hoplite advancing right, wearing only helmet, holding spear and shield; tortoise between legs
Reverse: triskeles with leaping lion left within incuse square; tortoise in the top right corner; E_Σ
Diameter:
20 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 11 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 11 g
No notes for this coin
SNG von Aulock 4484 (same dies)
