archaicwonder:Rare Coin Showing The Myth of Erichthonios, C. 450-330 BCThis electrum stater is from

archaicwonder:Rare Coin Showing The Myth of Erichthonios, C. 450-330 BCThis electrum stater is from the ancient city of Kyzikos (Cyzicus, map) in Mysia. It shows the Earth (Gaia) rising out of the ground, bearing in both hands the infant Erichthonios with a tunny fish below. The reverse is a quadripartite incuse square. Very fine, toned, slightly off center.The myth of Erichthonios places him at the beginning of the line of Athenian kings. Born of Gaia through Hephaestus, the infant was entrusted to Athena, who gave him to the daughters of Kekrops of Athens in a sealed casket. When they opened the casket, the sight of the anguipedic* (serpent-footed) Erichthonios drove the women to madness, and they hurled themselves off the Acropolis. Erichthonios was then left to found a new dynasty of the early kings of Athens. Although here the child is shown fully human, this rare Kyzikene stater is undoubtedly a representation of the beginning of this tale.*There are slightly different accounts of this mythology. Read more about it here. -- source link

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