What is a "basileion above forehead"? This is from descriptions of Ptolemy II bronze coins in Lorber CPE. Strange, but I have never heard of this before.
Sometimes the alternative description, 'floral
ornament', is used. You never see it depicted facing forward. just the side/profile view, so it just looks like a stick pointing upward from the top of the
head at the
apex of the diadem. Don't know what kind of flower it is, either. It's not seen on 'laureate'
Zeus images, just
Zeus Ammon images. Its prominence varies among
types.
Don't know if the
Isis Crown seen on some
Ptolemaic coins is also considered to be a 'basileon'. That is usually described simply as '
Isis crown' and I haven't seen the word 'basileon' used as a substitute.
It's one of those words you can use at parties to
cast a
bit of mystery and 'in the know' sophistication into your conversations. I've not checked, but maybe it's in the OED.
PtolemAE