Phaselis was an ancient Greek and Roman city on the coast of Lycia. It was founded by the Rhodians in 700 BC.
Because of its location on an isthmus separating two harbours, it became the most important harbour city of eastern Lycia and an important centre of commerce between Greece, Asia, Egypt, and Phoenicia, although it did not belong to the Lycian League. The city was captured by Persians after they conquered Asia Minor, and was later captured by Alexander the Great.
After the death of Alexander, the city remained in Egyptian hands from 209 BC to 197 BC, under the dynasty of Ptolemaios, and with the conclusion of the Apamea treaty, was handed over to the Rhodian Peraia, together with the other cities of Lycia. From 190 BC to 160 BC it remained under Rhodeian hegemony, but after 160 BC it was absorbed into the Lycian confederacy under Roman rule. In the 3rd century AD, the harbor fell under the threat of pirates. So it began to lose importance, suffering further losses at the hands of Arab ships, until totally impoverished in the 11th century. When the Seljuqs began to concentrate on Alanya and Antalya as ports, Phaselis ceased to be a port of any note.
Because of its location on an isthmus separating two harbours, it became the most important harbour city of eastern Lycia and an important centre of commerce between Greece, Asia, Egypt, and Phoenicia, although it did not belong to the Lycian League. The city was captured by Persians after they conquered Asia Minor, and was later captured by Alexander the Great.
After the death of Alexander, the city remained in Egyptian hands from 209 BC to 197 BC, under the dynasty of Ptolemaios, and with the conclusion of the Apamea treaty, was handed over to the Rhodian Peraia, together with the other cities of Lycia. From 190 BC to 160 BC it remained under Rhodeian hegemony, but after 160 BC it was absorbed into the Lycian confederacy under Roman rule. In the 3rd century AD, the harbor fell under the threat of pirates. So it began to lose importance, suffering further losses at the hands of Arab ships, until totally impoverished in the 11th century. When the Seljuqs began to concentrate on Alanya and Antalya as ports, Phaselis ceased to be a port of any note.
Modern location: Ruins
(1)
Alexander III
An
AR
Tetradrachm
struck 213-212 B.C.
in
Phaselis
Obverse: Head of Herakles right, wearing lionskin headdress, Seleukid anchor countermark on the head.
Reverse: AΛEXANΔΡOY / Θ-Φ / O - o right of Zeus seated left, holding eagle and sceptre. Θ over Φ in left field, O beneath throne.
Diameter:
31.9 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 15.59 g
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 15.59 g
Dated Local year 9, 213-212 BC (Price: 210-209 B.C.).
Added onto the Wildwinds Site.
Price 2845; Prokesch-Osten 53.
(2)
Alexander III
An
AR
Tetradrachm
struck 205-204 B.C.
in
Phaselis
Obverse: Head of Herakles right, wearing lionskin headdress. Seleukid anchor countermark on the head.
Reverse: AΛEΞANΔΡOY - Zeus seated left, holding eagle in right hand and sceptre in left, Φ above IΔ (date) in left field.
Diameter:
31.9 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 15.82 g
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 15.82 g
Posthumous Issue. Added onto the Wildwinds site.
Price 2855.
(3)
Alexander III
An
AR
Tetradrachm
struck 196-195 B.C.
in
Phaselis
Obverse: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Seleukid anchor cmk on the head.
Reverse: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ / KΓ - Φ - Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left on throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; KΓ (date) in left field, Φ below throne.
Diameter:
31.7 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 16.18 g
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 16.18 g
Posthumous Issue. Added onto the Wildwinds site.
Price 2866; Propontis hoard 81; Babylon hoard 44; Prokesch-Osten I, 54.
