Here's the overview:
An Overview of
Potamikon: Sinews of Acheloios (
Oxford: Archaeopress, 2016):
Philosophical Introduction: Why the
Man-Faced Bull? (available now on Academia.edu)
Chapter 1: After a brief introduction to bull-man art in Paleolithic times, this chapter provides a thorough overview of the origin and development of
man-faced bull iconography from Neolithic times up until the end of the
Bronze Age. He we present the
bulk of the evidence for our theory of intercultural continuity of
man-faced bull iconography from a single point of origin in Old Europe.
Chapter 2: This chapter discusses the role of
Cyprus in the Bronze and Iron Age in relation to the transfusion of
man-faced bull iconography and the oriental influx in general. The chapter also provides an argument that Iron Age seer-healers and mercenaries were the leading exponents of
man-faced bull iconography from East to
West. Anyone with a general interest in itinerant people of the Iron Age will really enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 3: This chapter provides evidence that the
man-faced bull was not a “Greek” god adopted by Etruscan, Sicilian, and other
Italic people, but instead emerged from long standing local traditions and very early (
Bronze Age) direct influence from the Near East to those areas, which later flourished when combined with the Greek tradition.
Chapter 4: Chapter 4 provides a comprehensive overview of the
man-faced bull in the Etruscan and Greek worlds and re-evaluates many important pieces based on the most recent archaeological research. Not since Isler and Jannot (1970s-80s) has this topic been discussed to this extent, and lots of new evidence and debate has occurred since.
Chapter 5: Here we provide a comprehensive overview of the
man-faced bull type on Greek coinage, covering all metals. Important re-evaluations of dating are presented with extensive notes.
Chapter 6: This chapter presents all past arguments for the identity of the
man-faced bull on Greek coinage. The debate has been continuing since Goltzius, c. 1640!
Chapter 7: Our argument for the identity of the
man-faced bull, which incorporates the two leading schools of thought on the subject (see blurb in last post).
Conclusions: The conclusion provides a general sketch of the origin and development of the
man-faced bull in general, and why he is culturally significant, even today.
Plates: 138 illustrations, many of which were hand drawn (that’s when I knew I was obsessed)
Catalog:
Sicily: 19 issuing authorities, 63 coin varieties. Includes map, enlargements, and extensive references. Much of the information in this chapter has never appeared in English. Includes a new dating scheme for Agyrion and a few other areas.
Italy: 15 issuing authorities, 392 coin varieties. Includes map, enlargements, and extensive references. As with
Sicily, much of the information in this chapter has never appeared in English. New (and much-needed) dating scheme for Cales and Teanum Sidicinum. New analysis of
Rome’s first coin, and its later cousin, both
man-faced bull types.
Akarnania: 5 issuing authorities, 29 coin varieties. Includes map, enlargements, and extensive references. The dating of these
types has been extensively narrowed and/or revised from earlier works, and presents this enigmatic coinage in a refreshingly clear light.
Others: 7 issuing authorities, 19 varieties. Includes map, enlargements, and extensive references. Many interesting coin
types falling outside of the usual zone of
man-faced bull iconography. Some new
types discovered (though most I’ve presented on
Forvm before).
Appendix 1: The only published translation of
Eckhel’s “Concerning the
Man-Faced Bull,” by our own
Curtis Clay!
Appendix 2: Dr. Lloyd
Taylor’s enlightening essay on the Indian humped
man-faced bull, which sheds further light on why this
type was adopted at Ai Khanoum.
Bibliography: 42 page international bibliography with something like 1,000 entries. This is essential for any
man-faced bull enthusiast and extremely valuable to students of the
history and coinages of these areas as well.
Index, which includes numismatic devices to
help researchers identify varieties quickly and efficiently.
Other General Comments:
All sections peer-reviewed by some of the world’s leading experts, including David
MacDonald, Keith
Rutter, Rabun
Taylor, Alberto
Campana, and Marina Taliercio-Mensitieri.
1,931 footnotes, giving you all the juicy little bits of
man-faced bull lore available.
354 pages, hard cover, sewn binding- sold at cost for a limited time!
