LUCANIA. Thourioi. Circa 400-350 BC. Distater (Silver, 25 mm, 15.72 g, 4 h). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned, on the bowl, with Skylla raising her left hand as if to shade her eyes as she looks off in the distance; behind neck guard, Δ[I]. Rev. ΘΟΥΡΙΩΝ Bull butting to right; in exergue, fish to right. Dewing 428 (same dies). HN Italy 1805. Noe, Thurian F26 (same dies). SNG ANS 969 (same obverse die). SNG Ashmolean 922 (same obverse die). Struck on excellent metal and of lovely style, a magnificent piece with wonderful old collection toning. A few minor marks and light scratches, otherwise, about extremely fine.



Thourioi was founded around 443 BC in southern Italy, on the western shore of the Gulf of Tarentum, at the instigation of Periklean Athens and with the support of panhellenic settlers. Rising on the ruins of nearby Sybaris, it was conceived as a 'common Greece' in the West. Among its first colonists was none other than Herodotos, the 'Father of History,' who made his home here for a time and likely continued work on his Histories. The city was laid out by Hippodamos of Miletos on a strict grid, long celebrated as a model of classical urban planning. Though founded as a democracy, Thourioi soon found itself embroiled in conflicts with Italic peoples and neighboring poleis. After an initial flourishing in culture and commerce, the city’s fortunes declined, as the 4th century BC brought both external threats and internal discord. Repeated clashes with the Lucanian tribes finally drove Thourioi to seek Roman protection in 282 BC.