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Author Topic: Caria-Caunos  (Read 763 times)

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Offline Paul S13

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Caria-Caunos
« on: November 08, 2021, 06:20:05 pm »
Hi folks,

I am doing a research about symbolisms in Greek coins, and I was wondering what is the reason behind Sphinx's depictions in Caria-Caunos cuts.

According to Hesiod the Sphinx was a descendant of Chimera, which allegedly bred by the king of Caunos Amisodoros
Is that evidence enough, or is there any other hidden relation?


Regards


Offline Meepzorp

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Re: Caria-Caunos
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2021, 06:45:08 am »
Hi PS,

I can't help you with your quest for information. I come from a science and engineering background, not a Classical background.

You pose an interesting question. The ancient Carians do appear to have been obsessed with the sphinx.

I have a Caria, Kaunos AE coin depicting a bull and sphinx (third coin):

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/meepzorp/g_caria.htm

Meepzorp

Offline Paul S13

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Re: Caria-Caunos
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2021, 03:05:49 pm »
Hi Meepzorp,
 
strange, that among so many coin specialists here, we cant get an accurate opinion

Regards

Offline Altamura

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Re: Caria-Caunos
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2021, 02:29:26 am »
... strange, that among so many coin specialists here, we cant get an accurate opinion ...
Perhaps there is just not much information about that :-\?

Did you already had a look into Arthur B. Cook, "Zeus - A study in ancient religion"? Perhaps you can find something there.

Regards

Altamura

Offline Virgil H

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Re: Caria-Caunos
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2021, 10:28:36 am »
Not every ancient coin collector is a mythologist. The sphinx is certainly an interesting creature and it is usually more associated with Egypt than Greece, at least in today's minds. Yet, even the Greeks seem to acknowledge that the Sphinx came from Africa.  And, the Greek and Egyptian versions are very different, with the Greek one being an evil monster and the Egyptian version much more benevolent. In Greece, it was a woman's head, in Egypt, usually a man. The myth of Oedipus features the Greek sphinx.

Interestingly, from what little I know, the sphinx in ancient Greece is most associated with Chios. Caunos is not terribly far from that island and there had to have been interaction between the two places. The sphinx also guarded the entry to Thebes with her riddle, which if you could not answer correctly, she ate you. Oedipus was the first to answer correctly, so the story goes. All that to say that the sphinx was widespread in ancient Greece.

Virgil

 

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