Islands off Thrace, Thasos AR Stater 500-480 BC Ancient Greek Silver Coin Archaic Depiction of Satyr and Nymph Museum Reproduction CSGDS0015

Thasos is an island off the Thracian coast. The island was important in the wine trade and also controlled rich silver mines on the mainland. Thasos was colonized by Ionians from Paros and was also visited by Phoenician sailors. Tribe Sintians occupied the island previously. The wealth of Thasos was proverbial thanks to gold and silver mines of the island and the nearby Pangaea which provided him 200 to 300 talents of annual resources from Herodian (VI, 46). During the revolt in Thrace in 498 BC against the Persian empire, Darius I (521-486 AC) tried to impose the city. After the Persian Wars, Thasos joined the Athenian alliance and the produce of the mines was first diverted to the Delian League and Athens directly. In 411 BC, Thasos revolted and drove the Athenians, who were replaced immediately by a Spartan garrison. After 357 BC, Thasos fell under Macedonian domination. She found some of its independence after the death of Lysimachus in 281 BC. After the defeat of Cynoscephalae in 197 BC, Thasos again became independent.

Nymphs are nature spirits who appear as beautiful, young nubile maidens. They dwell in mountains, valleys and groves, by springs and rivers, and also in trees and cool grottoes. Nymphs love to dance and sing and are the frequent target of satyrs. Satyrs are male companions of Pan and Dionysus with goat-like features, including a goat-tail, goat-like ears, and sometimes a goat-like phallus. As Dionysiac creatures, Satyrs are lovers of wine and women and ready for every physical pleasure. They are obsessed with nymphs.
DESIGN:
Obverse side
Bearded nude satyr (Silenus?), ithyphallic, in kneeling-running pose on right knee to right holding in his arms a nymph wearing a short-sleeved chiton, her left hand lowered, right hand raised. The hair of both is represented by small dots
Legend:
Anepigraphic

Reverse side
Quadripartite incuse square
Legend:
Anepigraphic

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