| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 209 | Silver | Auction date: 28 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 16 Price realized: 120 EUR (Approx. 129 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Lucania. Metapontion circa 330-290 BC. Fourrée Stater 21 mm, 5,99 g Wreathed head of Demeter left / META, ear of barley, a leaf on left with tongs above. Very Fine cf. HN Italy 1583. Demeter, a central figure in Greek mythology, is the goddess of agriculture, fertility, and the harvest. Revered as one of the Olympian gods, she holds significant influence over the cycle of life, particularly in relation to the cultivation of crops and the prosperity of the earth. As the goddess of agriculture, Demeter was deeply connected to the cultivation of grains, particularly wheat and barley. She was believed to oversee the growth of crops, ensuring their abundance and fertility. Ancient Greeks held elaborate rituals and festivals in her honor, seeking her blessings for successful harvests. Demeter is often depicted as a mature woman, often robed in flowing garments, with a crown of grain or ears of wheat adorning her head. In her hand, she may carry a scepter, a torch, or a sheaf of wheat, symbolizing her role as a nurturing and protective deity. One of the most famous myths associated with Demeter is the story of her daughter Persephone's abduction by Hades, the god of the underworld. In her grief and anger, Demeter caused the earth to wither and crops to fail, plunging the world into a devastating winter. Eventually, a compromise was reached, allowing Persephone to spend part of the year with her mother on earth, during which time crops flourished, and part of the year in the underworld with Hades, during which time the earth lay barren-a myth that explains the changing seasons. Demeter's worship was widespread throughout ancient Greece, and she was often invoked by farmers and agricultural communities seeking her favor. Her cult centers, such as the sanctuary of Eleusis near Athens, were sites of pilgrimage and initiation into the Eleusinian Mysteries, secretive rituals believed to promise a blessed afterlife. Metapontum, an ancient Greek city located in southern Italy (modern-day Basilicata), was known for its agricultural prosperity, particularly its production of grains such as wheat and barley. As such, it is plausible that coins minted in Metapontum could feature iconography related to Demeter, either as a direct representation of the goddess herself or as imagery associated with agricultural abundance. Starting price: 50 EUR |  |
