Zeus Chrysaoreus

Pius bust left. Draped statue of Zeus Chrysaoreus holding patera and sceptre. Eagle at feet. BMC Caria, Pl. XII

City; Province; Region Ceramus; Asia: Conventus of Alabanda; Caria
Date 138–161
Magistrate P. Ailios Themistokles Protoleontos, arxas (ex-archon?)
Obverse design laureate head of Antoninus Pius with traces of drapery, l.
Obverse inscription ΑΥΤΟΚ ΚΑΙΣ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟΝ ΣΕΒ ΕΥ (facing outward)
Reverse design Zeus (Chrysaoreus) standing, facing, head, l., holding patera over eagle and long sceptre
Reverse inscription ΑΙΛΙ ΘΕΜΙΣΤΟΚΛΗΣ ΠΡΩΤΟΛΕ ΑΡΞ ΚΕΡΑΜΙΗΤΩΝ
Metal Bronze
Average diameter 33 mm
Average weight 19.91 g

CHRYSAOR (Chrusaôr). The god with the golden sword or arms. In this sense it is used as a surname or attribute of several divinities, such as Apollo (Hom. II. xv. 256), Artemis (Herod. viii. 77), and Demeter. (Hom. Hymn. in Cer. 4.) We find Chrysaoreus as a surname of Zeus with the same meaning, under which he had a temple in Caria, which was a national sanctuary, and the place of meeting for the national assembly of the Carians. Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.