| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 203 | Silver | Auction date: 24 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 102 Price realized: 55 EUR (Approx. 60 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Pontos. Amisos. Time of Mithradates VI Eupator 120-63 BC. Bronze Æ 20 mm, 8,28 g Wreathed head of Mithradates VI as young Dionysos right / ΑΜΙΣΟΥ, panther skin and thyrsos on cista mystica. Good Very Fine HGC 7, 243. Mithridates VI Eupator, the king of Pontus, was given the epithet "Eupator" as part of his royal title. "Eupator" in Greek means "benefactor" or "noble father," which was a common element in the titles of Hellenistic rulers. This epithet was used to emphasize the ruler's beneficence and connection to his people. The connection between Mithridates VI Eupator and the Greek god Dionysus appears to be based on his efforts to align himself with the mythology and symbolism associated with Dionysus. By adopting the name "Dionysus" as an extension of his own name, Mithridates sought to draw parallels between his rule and the mythical narratives of liberation, renewal, and resistance that were associated with Dionysus. Dionysus was a deity associated with wine, festivities, and freedom from societal norms. His stories often involved themes of overthrowing oppressive forces and establishing new beginnings. Mithridates might have chosen to associate himself with Dionysus in order to convey the message that he was a liberator and a figure who defied foreign rule, in his case against Rome, just as Dionysus defied conventions and brought about transformation. Starting price: 50 EUR |  |
