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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Heros| ▸ |Europa||View Options:   | | | Zeus was enamored of Europa and decided to seduce or ravish her. He transformed himself into a tame white bull and mixed in with her father's herds. While Europa and her female attendants were gathering flowers, she saw the bull, caressed his flanks, and eventually got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity and ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus gave her a necklace made by Hephaestus and three additional gifts: Talos, Laelaps and a javelin that never missed. Zeus later re-created the shape of the white bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus. |
The ascisculus, a pickaxe used by stone-cutters, behind Apollo is a punning allusion to the moneyer's cognomen, Acisculus.
Zeus was enamored of Europa and decided to seduce her. He transformed into a tame white bull and joined her father's herds. When Europa got onto his back, Zeus ran to the sea and swam to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity. Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus re-created the shape of the bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus.SH23634. Silver denarius, Crawford 474/1a, Sydenham 998, RSC I Valeria 17, SRCV I 469, EF, weight 3.701 g, maximum diameter 19.5 mm, die axis 0o, obverse ACISCVLVS, head of Apollo right, ascisculus (pickaxe) behind; reverse L VALERIVS, Europa seated on bull walking right, holding billowing veil; slight flatness in center, reverse 1/5 off-center, mint luster and light golden toning; SOLD
Roman Republic, Dictatorship of Julius Caesar, L. Valerius Acisculus, c. 45 B.C.
The ascisculus, a pickaxe used by stone-cutters, behind Apollo is a punning allusion to the moneyer's cognomen, Acisculus.
Zeus was enamored of Europa and decided to seduce her. He transformed into a tame white bull and joined her father's herds. When Europa got onto his back, Zeus ran to the sea and swam to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity. Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus re-created the shape of the bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus.SH21108. Silver denarius, SRCV I 469, Crawford 474/1a, RSC I Valeria 17, VF, weight 3.677 g, maximum diameter 19.3 mm, die axis 45o, Rome mint, c. 45 B.C.; obverse ACISCVLVS, head of Apollo right, ascisculus (pickaxe) behind, star above; reverse L VALERIVS, Europa seated on bull walking right, holding billowing veil; toned and attractive; SOLD
Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Sidon, Phoenicia
Zeus was enamored of Europa and decided to seduce or ravish her. He transformed himself into a tame white bull and mixed in with her father's herds. While Europa and her female attendants were gathering flowers, she saw the bull, caressed his flanks, and eventually got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity and ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus gave her a necklace made by Hephaestus and three additional gifts: Talos, Laelaps and a javelin that never missed. Zeus later re-created the shape of the white bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus.RP42404. Silver tetradrachm, Prieur 1356 var. (reverse legend break), aVF, weight 13.894 g, maximum diameter 26.4 mm, die axis 180o, Sidon (Saida, Lebanon) mint, 215 - 217 A.D.; obverse AYT KAI ANTΩNEINOC CE, laureate bust right, seen from behind; reverse ΔHMAPX EX YΠATO-C Δ, eagle standing facing on club, wings open, head left, wreath in beak, Europa riding a bull between legs; SOLD
Roman Republic, Dictatorship of Julius Caesar, L. Valerius Acisculus, 45 B.C.
The denarii of the moneyer, Lucius Valerius Acisculus have been the subject of much scholarly head scratching, with this fascinating and unusual issue being no exception. David Sear in Roman Silver Coins I: Republic to Augustus (1978) interpreted the reverse in the traditional fashion, with Valeria Luperca (the sister of the early Roman consul Publicola) riding a heifer, a supposed allusion to a legend of the moneyer's family, retold by Plutarch. However, in Sear's The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators 49 - 27 BC (1998), he had completely revised his description of the coin type in reaction to research conducted by Michael Crawford, "who prefers to see Europa riding on the bull." Sear goes on to say, "In mythology, Zeus fell in love with this Phoenician princess and, turning himself into a bull, enticed her to ride on his back whereupon he swam out to sea and took her to Crete where she bore him several children. Is it too fanciful to see in this type a reference to Queen Cleopatra of Egypt who, at Caesar's invitation in 46 BC, had crossed the sea to join him in Rome where she remained until his assassination?"RR114360. Silver denarius, Crawford 474/1a, Sydenham 998, BMCRR 4099, Sear Imperators 90, RBW 1656, RSC Valeria 17 (£75), Babelon Valeria 17, gVF, uneven, off-centered strike, two 'I'-shaped marks in front of Apollo (banker's marks?), weight 3.932 g, maximum diameter 19.6 mm, die axis 90o, Rome mint, 45 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Apollo to right, star above, acisculus (double-headed pick) behind with ACISCVLVS in between and below head; reverse Europa seated on bull to right, holding billowing veil, L•VALERIVS in exergue; first specimen of this type handled by FORVM; SOLD
Sidon, Phoenicia, 9 - 8 B.C.
Zeus was enamored of Europa and decided to seduce or ravish her. He transformed himself into a tame white bull and mixed in with her father's herds. While Europa and her female attendants were gathering flowers, she saw the bull, caressed his flanks, and eventually got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity and ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus gave her a necklace made by Hephaestus and three additional gifts: Talos, Laelaps and a javelin that never missed. Zeus later re-created the shape of the white bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus.RP97504. Bronze AE 20, RPC Online I 4569 (17 spec.), Rouvier 1438, BMC Phoenicia 164, Baramki 132 ff., SNG Fitz 6058, Lindgren III 1432, cf. SNG Cop 235 (date illegible), F, mottled dark patina, porosity, deposits, areas of corrosion, weight 6.844 g, maximum diameter 20.2 mm, die axis 15o, Sidon (Saida, Lebanon) mint, 9 - 8 B.C.; obverse tetrastyle temple on a high podium, altar in front of temple at center, flanked by a free standing column on each side; reverse Europa seated facing on a bull charging left, holding bulls left horn with her right hand, her billowing veil in her left hand, ΣIΔΩNIΩN over LΓP (year ) below; from the Michael Arslan Collection; SOLD
Caligula, 16 March 37 - 24 January 41 A.D., Sidon, Phoenicia
Zeus was enamored of Europa and decided to seduce or ravish her. He transformed himself into a tame white bull and mixed in with her father's herds. While Europa and her female attendants were gathering flowers, she saw the bull, caressed his flanks, and eventually got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity and ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus gave her a necklace made by Hephaestus and three additional gifts: Talos, Laelaps and a javelin that never missed. Zeus later re-created the shape of the white bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus.RP91511. Bronze AE 23, Rouvier 1457 (no star visible); RPC I 4612 (9 spec.); BMC Phoenicia p. 178, 208, gF, grainy and porous, scratches, weight 10.556 g, maximum diameter 22.5 mm, die axis 0o, Sidon (Saida, Lebanon) mint, 37 - 38 A.D.; obverse laureate head right, star lower right (star not visible, RPC notes the star is often faint but likely all originally had a star); reverse veiled Europa seated on bull left, holding bull's horn with right hand, inflated veil billowing overhead in left hand, ΣIΔΩNOΣ over L HMP (year 148) below; from the Maxwell Hunt Collection; SOLD
Augustus, 16 January 27 B.C. - 19 August 14 A.D., Amphipolis, Macedonia
Tauropolos is an epithet for the goddess Artemis, variously interpreted to mean worshiped at Tauris (Crimea), or pulled by a yoke of bulls, or the hunting bull goddess. A statue of Artemis Tauropolos by Iphigenia in her temple at Brauron in Attica was said to have been from the Taurians. The festival of Artemis at Athens was called the Tauropolia.RP92733. Bronze AE 23, RPC I 1630; SNG ANS 162; SNG Cop 92; AMNG III 71; BMC Macedonia p. 52, 76; Varbanov III 3117 (R5), F, spots of corrosion, deposits and encrustations, a little off center, weight 6.708 g, maximum diameter 22.6 mm, die axis 0o, Amphipolis mint, 16 Jan 27 B.C. - 19 Aug 14 A.D.; obverse KAIΣAROΣ ΣEBAΣTOΣ, bare head right; reverse Artemis Tauropolos seated facing riding on bull galloping right, holding billowing veil with both hands, ΔHMOY AMΦIΠOΛITΩN in two lines below; SOLD
Gortyna, Crete, c. 250 - 221 B.C.
Gortyna in the southern part of central Crete, rivalled Cnossus in wealth and importance.
A Gortynian decree of the third or second century B.C. required, under a penalty, the use of ‘the bronze money which the city has put in circulation,’ and established a fine to be paid by any one who ‘accepts in payment silver obols.’ GB35135. Bronze AE 17, SNG Cop 447, VF, green patina, weight 4.847 g, maximum diameter 16.7 mm, die axis 45o, obverse Europa seated right, amid branches; reverse Europa on bull left, all in wrreath; SOLD
Thraco-Macedonian, Mid 5th Century B.C.
Zeus was enamored of Europa and decided to seduce or ravish her. He transformed himself into a tame white bull and mixed in with her father's herds. While Europa and her female attendants were gathering flowers, she saw the bull, caressed his flanks, and eventually got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity and ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus gave her a necklace made by Hephaestus and three additional gifts: Talos, Laelaps and a javelin that never missed. Zeus later re-created the shape of the white bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus.GA66475. Silver hemiobol, Tzamalis 16; Svoronos HPM pl. VIII, 8; cf. Rosen 165 (diobol, 1.701g); SNG ANS -, F, rough, weight 0.284 g, maximum diameter 6.94 mm, die axis 0o, Thraco-Macedonian mint, Middle 5th century B.C.; obverse Jugate heads of Europa and a bull right; reverse Quadripartite incuse square; very rare; SOLD
Sidon, Phoenicia, 62 - 61 B.C.
Sidon is mentioned by the prophets Isaiah (e.g. Isaiah 23:2,4,12), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:22, 27:3, 47:4), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 27:8, 28:21, 32:30) and Joel (Joel 3:4). Jesus visited Sidon (Matthew 15:21, Mark 3:8, Mark 7:24, Luke 6:17). Paul sailed for Rome from Sidon (Acts 27:3,4).GB112275. Bronze AE 23, SNG Cop 225; Cohen DCA 897.50 (R1); cf. BMC Phoenicia p. 166, 143 ff. (other years), VF, green patina, flan cracks, weight 6.019 g, maximum diameter 22.8 mm, die axis 30o, Sidon (Saida, Lebanon) mint, 62 - 61 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Zeus right; reverse Europa riding left on a bull, seated facing, bull's horn in right hand, inflated veil over head in left hand, LN (year 50) upper left, ΣIΔΩNIΩN (of the Sidonians) below; SOLD
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