IONIA. Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Elagabalus, 218-222. Hexassarion (Bronze, 36 mm, 24.56 g, 6 h), ...einos, son of Zotikos, grammateus. ΑΥΤ•ΚΑΙ•Μ•ΑΥΡ•ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟϹ• Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus to right, seen from behind. Rev. ЄΠI [...]INOY ΣΩTIKOY MAΓ[N/HTΩN] Dionysos riding a bull, standing on a base to left, holding a thyrsos in his upright right hand and one of the bull's horns with his left; the bull’s legs tightly bound; in front of him, a male figure, likely a priest, restraining the beast with a rope tightly bound around its horns; below the base, four Dendrophoroi walking to the left, each carrying a tree trunk over his shoulder. RPC online -. Unpublished and unique. A highly important piece with a wonderful reverse composition of great mythological interest. Plugged hole and with a scratch on the obverse and the reverse double struck, otherwise, very fine.



The reverse of this fascinating coin depicts Dionysos riding a bull, swinging his thyrsos in his right hand. The wild animal is bound by its legs and is being tamed by the god, who grips one of its horns. In front of the bull stands a male figure, likely a priest, who restrains the animal with a rope or leash tied around its horns. The figure’s physical struggle, actively participating in the taming of the beast alongside the god, highlights the contrast between the untamed nature of the animal and the controlling force of the priest. Below the base on which the bull stands are four Dendrophoroi, each carrying a tree trunk over his shoulder. Dendrophoroi were cultic bearers of tree trunks or branches, typically symbolizing nature’s fecundity and fertility - key themes in the Dionysian cult, especially in processions honoring the god.

Thus, the reverse emphasizes Dionysos' dominion over the wild forces of nature. The detailed depiction of the priest and the Dendrophoroi suggests that the scene represents a local procession held in Magnesia in honor of Dionysos, during which the bull was likely sacrificed. It is noteworthy that the only other known emission from this magistrate (RPC VI online 5131), whose name is unfortunately only partially legible, also features a Dionysian theme: Dionysos is shown seated in a shrine on a cista mystica, and once again, a Dendrophoros is depicted on the left, approaching an altar. This points to another Dionysian scene, perhaps performed during the same local procession in Magnesia.