Sidon Phoenicia Translation Request

[v-drome]

Hi, all.  Here is a coin of Sidon, unfortunately very poorly preserved.  Can someone tell me the meaning of ΣIΔΩNOΣ ΘEAΣ?  I saw the phrase translated as "Sidon the Holy", but I think the Greek word for "holy" is IEΡAΣ.  Any clarification would be appreciated.  Thanks, V-drome

BCC RGP53
Sidon, Phoenicia
Semi-autonomous
Time of Claudius 49/50CE
Obv: Head of young Dionysus
left, wreathed with ivy.
Rev: LΞΡ (year 160)
ΣIΔΩNOΣ ΘEAΣ
Dionysiac cista mystica.
17.5x16.5mm. 5.31gm. Axis:0
BMC 153

[Jay GT4]

I've seen it translated as "of the Sidonians" but I'm just going by what others have written down.

[curtislclay]

According to Eckhel, this inscription must mean "Of the goddess Sidon".

Sidon was considered to be one of the oldest cities in the Greco-Roman world, so the city itself was apparently deified, just as Rome was, ΘEA PΩMH.

Hill agreed, BMC Phoenicia p. cvii: "Eckhel has shown that ΘEAΣ in some of these inscriptions is in apposition to ΣIΔΩNOΣ, and that it does not refer to the goddess of Sidon."

[v-drome]

Very interesting.  Thank you, Jay and Curtis.