PHOENICIA. Tripolis. Elagabalus, 218-222. AE (Bronze, 27 mm, 12.18 g, 2 h), CY 530 = 218/9. [ΑΥ Κ] Μ ΑΥ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝ[ΟC] Laureate head of Caracalla to right.
Rev. TPΙΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ / L ΛΦ Front view of the temple of Astarte with arcuated lintel in the middle between two wings with four columns with a pediment each, all within larger pediment; within the central portion, Astarte standing front, head to left, wearing turreted crown, holding long scepter in her right hand and being crowned by Nike standing on small column at her left; below, stairway, right. Lindgren & Kovacs 2356. Price & Trell 734, fig. 420. RPC VI online 8272. Very rare. Light deposits
, otherwise, very fine.
From the MST Collection of architectural Roman Provincial coins, assembled over the past 50 years.
Astarte, the Phoenician and Canaanite goddess of love, fertility, and war, was widely worshipped in the eastern Mediterranean region. Today it is not known if Tripoli had a temple temple dedicated to Astarte, but it seems likely considering the reverse of this coin. Astarte's cult was certainly prevalent at Tripolis, and there was a temple to Eshmun - a god often associated with Astarte - nearby, the ruins of which today are considered the best preserved in the region.
