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ZEUS and AMALTHEA
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BI Antoninianus. Cologne 257-258 AD. 3,41 grs. Radiate and draped bust right. VALERIANVS CAES / Infant Jupiter seated facing on goat (Amalthea) standing right,his right hand raised. IOVI CRESCENTI.
RIC 3. RSC 26.
The myth.
"Rhea, when she was heavy with Zeus, went off to Krete and gave birth to him there in a cave on Mount Dikte. She put him in the care of both the Kouretes and the nymphs Adrasteia and Ide, daughters of Melisseus. These Nymphai nursed the baby with the milk of Amaltheia, while the armed Kouretes stood guard over him in the cave, banging their spears against their shields to prevent Kronos from hearing the infant’s voice." Pseudo-Apollodorus.
She gave the god milk, but snapped her horn on a tree and was severed from half her loveliness. The Nympha picked the horn up, ringed it with fresh herbs, and took it fruit-filled to Jupiter’s lips. When he controlled the sky and sat on his father’s throne and nothing surpasses unconquered Jove, he made stars of the nurse and the nurse’s fruitful horn, which bears even now its mistress’ name." Ovid.
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