Ancient NEWSmismatics: "Getting the Upper Hand" Silver

Stater of Siris, Macedon by L.A. Hambly

MACEDON. Siris ("Lete"). Ca. 525-480 BC. AR stater (19mm, 9.96 gm). Satyr, nude and
ithyphallic, standing right, two pellets to left, grasping hand of nymph in diaphanous dress
fleeing right; three pellets before / Quadripartite incuse square divided diagonally.
A rare intriguing piece which may actually portray a ritual "Dionysic dance

The

ancient Greeks in the civilized southern

portion of the peninsula regarded the people of the
northern hinterlands, Macedon and Thrace in
particular, as a wild, unrestrained bunch incapable
of rational thought, entirely ruled by their lust for
drinking, warfare and, of course, their rampant
sexuality. Dionysus, the Olympian god of wine and
drinking, is said to have hailed from these northern
parts and his sacred rites, later called
Bacchanalia (after his Roman counterpart
Bacchus), were famously ribald. As if to confirm
the Greek view of their nature, the early coins struck by ThracoMacedonian cities and tribes often feature what appear to be ithyphallic (that
is, sexually excited) satyrs chasing around, or carrying off, nubile young
maidens usually called nymphs. On the silver staters of the island city of
Thasos, circa 520-450 BC, the satyr is actually carrying the satyr, who raises
her hand in a gesture usually interpreted as a protest. Satyrs, the often-drunk
and always erect companions of Dionysus, are depicted as nude, muscular
men with pointed ears and a tail; the nymphs usually wear a flowing,
diaphanous dress called a chiton. It has been suggested that the Thasos
coins actually depict a special dance that is
part of Dionysic ritual (Dionysus was
prominently worshipped in northern Greece
and his portrait appears on later coins of
Thasos). Silver staters struck at the mint
recently identified as Siris in Macedon,
including this rare variety, depict a somewhat
different scene the nymph is fleeing the
satyr, who reaches out to grasp her arm. Our
coin has an added feature not seen on other
varieties: The nymph appears to grasp the

Ancient NEWSmismatics: "Getting the Upper Hand" Silver

Stater of Siris, Macedon by L.A. Hambly
Satyrs erect male member and looks back into his face with an expression
that seems to say gotcha! It would appear to be a rare instance of the
prey getting the upper hand, so to speak, on her pursuer.