| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 209 | Silver | Auction date: 28 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 150 Price realized: 50 EUR (Approx. 54 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Cilicia. Uncertain mint circa 400-300 BC. Obol AR 9 mm, 0,51 g Zeus-Baaltars seated left, holding eagle / Herakles standing right, raising club against lion. Very Fine Not found in consulted references. The term "Zeus-Baaltars" refers to a syncretic deity combining elements of the Greek god Zeus and the Phoenician god Baal. This hybrid god was worshiped in certain regions where Greek and Phoenician cultures intersected or overlapped, particularly in areas such as the Levant during the Hellenistic period. Zeus-Baaltars represents a blending of religious traditions, where aspects of Greek and Phoenician mythology and religious practices were fused together. In this hybrid deity, Zeus, the supreme god of the Greek pantheon, is combined with Baal, a principal god of the Phoenician and Canaanite pantheons associated with fertility, storms, and the heavens. The worship of Zeus-Baaltars likely emerged as a result of cultural exchanges and interactions between Greek and Phoenician communities in the eastern Mediterranean region. It reflects the tendency of ancient societies to adapt and synthesize religious beliefs and practices from different cultures they encountered. The cult of Zeus-Baaltars demonstrates the complex nature of religious syncretism in the ancient world, where diverse cultures and belief systems intersected and influenced each other, leading to the creation of new religious identities and deities that reflected the cultural diversity of the region. Starting price: 50 EUR |  |
