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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Types| ▸ |Vessels & Cups||View Options:   | | | Vessels and cups depicted on coins were often those used in religious ceremonies, but also those used in daily life. The amphora, used to store olive-oil and wine, is often depicted on coins, especially from cities that were big wine producers.  |
Vespasian, along with legions X Fretensis and V Macedonica, landed at Ptolemais in April 67. There he was joined by his son Titus, who arrived from Alexandria at the head of Legio XV Apollinaris, as well as by the armies of various local allies including that of King Agrippa II. Fielding more than 60,000 soldiers, Vespasian began operations by subjugating Galilee. Many towns gave up without a fight, although others had to be taken by force. Of these, Josephus provides detailed accounts of the sieges of Yodfat and Gamla. By the year 68, Jewish resistance in the north had been crushed, and Vespasian made Caesarea Maritima his headquarters and methodically proceeded to clear the coast. -- WikipediaJD114516. Bronze prutah, Kadman III 12; Meshorer TJC 196a; Hendin 6389; SNG ANS 427; Sofaer pl. 222, 11, aVF, dark patina, earthen deposits, centered on a tight flan, rev. edge beveled, sprue remnants/cuts, weight 2.444 g, maximum diameter 16.8 mm, die axis 180o, Jerusalem mint, year 2, 67 - 68 A.D.; obverse Paleo-Hebrew: Year two, amphora with fluted body, narrow neck, broad rim, and two small curved handles; reverse Paleo-Hebrew: The freedom of Zion, vine leaf on small branch with tendril; $140.00 (€131.60)
The First Jewish Revolt, 66 - 70 A.D.
Vespasian, along with legions X Fretensis and V Macedonica, landed at Ptolemais in April 67. There he was joined by his son Titus, who arrived from Alexandria at the head of Legio XV Apollinaris, as well as by the armies of various local allies including that of King Agrippa II. Fielding more than 60,000 soldiers, Vespasian began operations by subjugating Galilee. Many towns gave up without a fight, although others had to be taken by force. Of these, Josephus provides detailed accounts of the sieges of Yodfat and Gamla. By the year 68, Jewish resistance in the north had been crushed, and Vespasian made Caesarea Maritima his headquarters and methodically proceeded to clear the coast. -- WikipediaJD114517. Bronze prutah, Kadman III 12; Meshorer TJC 196a; Hendin 6389; SNG ANS 427; Sofaer pl. 222, 11, aVF, dark patina, earthen deposits, well centered on a tight flan, weight 1.598 g, maximum diameter 15.7 mm, die axis 180o, Jerusalem mint, year 2, 67 - 68 A.D.; obverse Paleo-Hebrew: Year two, amphora with fluted body, narrow neck, broad rim, and two small curved handles; reverse Paleo-Hebrew: The freedom of Zion, vine leaf on small branch with tendril; $140.00 (€131.60)
The First Jewish Revolt, 66 - 70 A.D.
Vespasian, along with legions X Fretensis and V Macedonica, landed at Ptolemais in April 67. There he was joined by his son Titus, who arrived from Alexandria at the head of Legio XV Apollinaris, as well as by the armies of various local allies including that of King Agrippa II. Fielding more than 60,000 soldiers, Vespasian began operations by subjugating Galilee. Many towns gave up without a fight, although others had to be taken by force. Of these, Josephus provides detailed accounts of the sieges of Yodfat and Gamla. By the year 68, Jewish resistance in the north had been crushed, and Vespasian made Caesarea Maritima his headquarters and methodically proceeded to clear the coast. -- WikipediaJD114518. Bronze prutah, Kadman III 12; Meshorer TJC 196a; Hendin 6389; SNG ANS 427; Sofaer pl. 222, 11, aVF, green patina, earthen deposits, scratches, off center, rev. edge beveled, sprue remnants/cuts, weight 2.818 g, maximum diameter 16.4 mm, die axis 180o, Jerusalem mint, year 2, 67 - 68 A.D.; obverse Paleo-Hebrew: Year two, amphora with fluted body, narrow neck, broad rim, and two small curved handles; reverse Paleo-Hebrew: The freedom of Zion, vine leaf on small branch with tendril; $100.00 (€94.00)
Parium, Mysia, c. 45 B.C.
The abbreviated legend translates, "Twin Julian Colony of Parium." The other colony in the twin pair was Lampsakos. The head is probably Venus and intended to flatter Julius Caesar, who claimed descent from Venus. The reverse was also like intended to honor Caesar, the Pontifex Maximus, the head priest of Rome. The praefericulum was a metal ewer used by Roman augurs and pontiffs to hold wine dedicated to libations. It was carried in religious processions and, like the lituus, praefericula were among the sacerdotal insignia frequently depicted on coins of the pontiffs and augurs.RP114662. Bronze semis, RPC I 2259; SNG Cop 280; SNG BnF 141; BMC Mysia p. 102, 80; Lindgren-Kovacs 272; Sear Imperators, App 2, 715, F, attractive green patina, weight 3.227 g, maximum diameter 14.5 mm, die axis 0o, Parium (Kemer, Canakkale, Turkey) mint, time of Julius Caesar, c. 45 BC; obverse female (Venus?) head right, wearing stephane; C G I P (Colonia Gemella Iulia Pariana) around; reverse praefericulum (ewer), D - D (by decree of the decurions) across fields; $90.00 (€84.60)
Herodian Judaea - Roman Syria Palestina, Footed Redware Pottery Bowl, 1st - 4th Century A.D.
AA99538. Footed redware pottery bowl, 21cm (8 1/4") diameter, 5cm (2" tall), Choice, complete and intact, a few scratches, chip on foot, reverse unglazed, wheel marks left as ornamentation, wide shallow bowl with small embellishment in center, rounded and folded lip, squat open foot; found in Israel, ex Archaeological Center (Robert Deutsch, Tel Aviv, Israel, 16 Apr 2015), with photocopy of Israel Antiquities Authority export approval certificate; $850.00 (€799.00)
The First Jewish Revolt, 66 - 70 A.D.
Vespasian, along with legions X Fretensis and V Macedonica, landed at Ptolemais in April 67. There he was joined by his son Titus, who arrived from Alexandria at the head of Legio XV Apollinaris, as well as by the armies of various local allies including that of King Agrippa II. Fielding more than 60,000 soldiers, Vespasian began operations by subjugating Galilee. Many towns gave up without a fight, although others had to be taken by force. Of these, Josephus provides detailed accounts of the sieges of Yodfat and Gamla. By the year 68, Jewish resistance in the north had been crushed, and Vespasian made Caesarea Maritima his headquarters and methodically proceeded to clear the coast. -- WikipediaJD113949. Bronze prutah, Kadman III 12; Meshorer TJC 196a; Hendin 6389; SNG ANS 427; Sofaer pl. 222, 11, F, green patina, scratches, rev. edge beveled, sprue cuts, small edge cracks, weight 2.979 g, maximum diameter 16.6 mm, die axis 180o, Jerusalem mint, year 2, 67 - 68 A.D.; obverse Paleo-Hebrew: Year two, amphora with fluted body, narrow neck, broad rim, and two small curved handles; reverse Paleo-Hebrew: The freedom of Zion, vine leaf on small branch with tendril; $110.00 (€103.40)
The First Jewish Revolt, 66 - 70 A.D., Irregular Crude Style
This irregular crude style First Jewish Revolt Prutah was struck with the same dies as a coin found in excavations at Masada. It may have been struck at the Jerusalem mint with dies engraved by a less skilled engraver, or, perhaps more likely, it was sold at another mint outside of the city.JD113012. Bronze prutah, Sofaer p. 273 & pl. 222, 20 (same dies); Meshorer Masada 2218 (same dies); Hendin 6389b (irregular); Meshorer TJC 198 (crude); SNG ANS 443 (crude), VF, irregular crude style, attractive green patina, off center, obv. edge beveled, sprue remnants, edge cracks, weight 2.274 g, maximum diameter 16.5 mm, die axis 270o, Jerusalem(?) mint, year 2, 67 - 68 A.D.; obverse Paleo-Hebrew: Year two, amphora with fluted body, narrow neck, broad rim, and two small curved handles; reverse Paleo-Hebrew: The freedom of Zion, vine leaf on small branch with tendril; $140.00 (€131.60)
Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Nicopolis ad Istrum, Moesia Inferior
Nicopolis ad Istrum was founded by Trajan around 101 - 106, at the junction of the Iatrus (Yantra) and the Rositsa rivers, in memory of his victory over the Dacians. Its ruins are located at the village of Nikyup, 20 km north of Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria. The town reached its peak during the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian, the Antonines and the Severan dynasty.RP113338. Bronze assarion, H-H-J Nikopolis 8.18.47.19 (R3), AMNG I/I 1506, Varbanov I 3002 (R4) var. (obv. leg.), VF, dark patina, broad flan with full legends, edge ragged, weight 3.188 g, maximum diameter 18.1 mm, die axis 45o, Nicopolis ad Istrum (Nikyup, Bulgaria) mint, as caesar, 196 - 198 A.D.; obverse M AV KAI ANTONINOC, bare head right; reverse NIKOΠOΛ ΠPOC IC, tall narrow vase (or torch?) entwined by snake, fluted and ringed, stalks of grain hanging down on each side; ex Barry Murphy (Sep 2007); zero sales of this type recorded on Coin Archives in the last two decades; $90.00 (€84.60)
The First Jewish Revolt, 66 - 70 A.D.
In 69 A.D., Vespasian began to lay siege to Jerusalem, the city was captured the following year by his son Titus. On 4 August 70 A.D. Titus destroyed the Temple. The Jewish fast of Tisha B'Av mourns the Fall of Jerusalem annually on this date.JD113723. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6392; Meshorer TJC 204; SNG ANS 446; Sofaer pl. 223, 31, VF, green patina, off center, rev. edge beveled, sprue cuts, weight 3.132 g, maximum diameter 17.3 mm, die axis 270o, Jerusalem mint, year 3, 68 - 69 A.D.; obverse Paleo-Hebrew: Year three, amphora with fluted body, narrow neck, broad rim, two handles, and conical fluted lid decorated with tiny globule at peak and row of tiny globules around edge; reverse Paleo-Hebrew: The freedom of Zion, vine leaf on small branch with tendril; $110.00 (€103.40)
Islamic, Sphero-Conical "Mercury" Vessel, 9th - 15th Century
Sphero-conical vessels have been found from the Levante to Central Asia, dating from the 9th to 15th century A.D. More than 30 are in the Palestine Archaeological Museum and many others in collections in Jerusalem. Shape, style and decor vary greatly. They have been identified as vessels, fire grenades, aeolipiles, plumb bobs, and decorative finials.
R. Ettinghausen in "The Use of Sphero-Conical Vessels in the Muslim East" (1965) discusses specimens that have been found with traces of Mercury inside. In the Muslim world, mercury was used in medicinal drugs for headaches, paralysis, palsy, deafness, insanity, and loss of vision, as a tonic, and in salves employed against scabs, itch and mange. It was used in veterinary medicines and as poison against lice, mice, snakes and scorpions. In industry, it was used for backing of mirrors and embellishments. Ettinghausen notes, however, that despite conclusive evidence for use as mercury containers, this was not their exclusive function.
A. Ghouchani and C. Adle in "A Sphero-Conical Vessel as Fuqqa'a, or a Gourd for 'Beer'" (1992) provide convincing evidence that some of these vessels, especially some inscribed with Kufic, were used for storing and drinking beer. Examples of inscriptions include:
"As long as it is full, they will kiss it, When empty they will drop it."
"Do not give your heart to woman, because they will make a gourd of beer out of a man."
"Drink to your good health."
Literature and inscriptions indicate the "gourds" were placed in ice to cool the beer and the beer was under pressure and would gush out after the gourd was opened.
In one case, these "gourds" were actually used as grenades. The Arab historian Al-Damiri (1341 - 1404), wrote, "There are deadly scorpions around Nasibayn. It is said that they originated from Shahr-i Zur. A king encircled Nasibayn. He took the scorpions and put them into beer gourds and catapulted them into the city!"AA99527. See Ettinghausen (1965) and Ghouchani-Adle (1992) for discussions of the type, near Choice, repaired crack, chips, tip of "cone" missing; 13.5cm tall, 12cm diameter, probably pre-Mongol, 9th - mid 13th century; unusual pine-cone decor (we did not find another in references or online), ex Mera Antiq (Yossi Eilon, Tel Aviv, 25 Jun 2013), found in Israel; $400.00 (€376.00)
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