Antiquities Discussion Forums > Seals and Tesserae

Portrait of Esau on Roman tessera

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Gert:
I recently purchased this amazing lead tessera (18.3mm)showing, according to the inscription ECAY, an idealized portrait of the Biblical figure,  "rough" hunter Esau, son of Isaac and brother of Jacob.
The fabric of this tessera suggests a provenance in Asia Minor, the region of Ephesos, where many lead tesserae originate. The style, to me at least, suggests a date c. 2nd/3rd century AD.
My guess is that this remarkable piece was commissioned by a Hellenized Edomite, living in Asia Minor, who, in the line of good ancient tradition, wanted to show his ancestral ties to Esau.
Regards
Gert

casata137ec:
How interesting! I had to look up who he was. I wonder how a figure from Jewish tradition made it on to a Roman coin? Very good addition!

Chris

Gert:
Thanks for the comment, Chris. I should have added that Esau is indeed a Biblical figure, whose name is featured in both Testaments.
In antiquity, he was regarded as the progenitor of the Edomite people. The portrait on this tessera is most likely intended as a sort of 'founder hero', of which many were known and honored in the Graeco-Roman world. This would have been done by a Hellenized Edomite living in Asia Minor.
Regards
Gert

Robert_Brenchley:
He is in Jewish tradition, but an Edomite would be far more likely to use the image of his ancestor. An Israelite would surely have used Jacob, the ancestor of his own people.

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