EGYPT. Oxyrhynchos. Circa 1st-3rd centuries. Tessera (Lead, 29 mm, 15.00 g, 1 h). Athena standing front within distyle temple, head to left, holding Nike in her right hand and spear in her left. Rev. OΞ Nike advancing left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond in her left. Dattari (Savio) -. Emmett 4417. Slightly rough, otherwise, about very fine.


Based on the reverse legend, Milne (The Leaden Token-Coinage of Egypt Under The Romans, NC 8 (1908), p. 287-310) has connected these pieces showing Athena to the Middle-Egyptian town of Oxyrhynchos, famed for the massive find of papyri there by Grenfell and Hunt in the late 19th-early 20th century. Athena had a temple dedicated to her in the town and was equated with the Egyptian Thoeris (or Taweret), who served as a local guardian deity. The present piece likely shows the cult statue of Athena-Thoeris, serenely standing within the sanctum.