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[
2458]
Vespasian, 69-79 A.D.
Silver Tetradrachm (27mm, 11.67 gm.), Cyprus, 77-78 A.D. RARE.
Reference: BMC 24; RPC 1806 var.
AVTOKPATΩP OVЄCΠACIANOC KAICAP, laureate head left.
ЄTOYC NЄOY IЄPOY, Θ in exergue,
conical cult xoanon of Aphrodite of Paphos within central distyle
tower, central crossbeam of tripartite entablature above decorated with
disk-in-crescent motif; tristyle porticoes flanking; the entire structure set on
low basis.
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Provided with certificate of authenticity.
CERTIFIED AUTHENTIC
by Sergey Nechayev, PhD -
Numismatic Expert
Aphrodite at Paphos
The
Greeks agreed that Aphrodite had landed at the site of Paphos when
she rose from the sea. According to
Pausanias (i. 14), her worship was introduced
at Paphos from
Syria; but it is much more probable that it was
of
Phoenician origin. Before archaeology commenced
it was understood that the cult of Aphrodite had been established before the
time of Homer
(ca 700 BC), as the grove and altar of Aphrodite at Paphos are mentioned in the
Odyssey
(viii. 362). Archaeology has established that Cypriots venerated a fertility
goddess before the arrival of the Greeks, in cult that combined Aegean with
Eastern mainland aspects. Female figurines and charms found in the immediate
vicinity date as far back as the early third millennium. The
temenos
was well established before the first structures were erected in the
Late Bronze Age: "There was unbroken
continuity of cult from that time until 391 AD when the Roman Emperor Theodosius
I outlawed all pagan religions and the sanctuary fell into the ruins in which we
find it today."
Here the worship of the goddess centred, not for Cyprus alone, but for the
whole Aegean world. The Cinyradae, or descendants of Cinyras, Greek by
name, but of Phoenician origin, were the chief priests. Their power and
authority were very great; but it may be inferred from certain inscriptions that
they were controlled by a senate and an assembly of the people. There was also
an oracle
here. Few cities have ever been so much sung and glorified by the poets. The
remains of the vast temple of Aphrodite are still discernible, its circumference
being marked by huge foundation walls. After its overthrow by an earthquake, it
was rebuilt by
Vespasian, on whose coins it is represented, as
well as on earlier and later ones, and especially in the style on those of
Septimius Severus. From these representations, and from the existing
remains,
Gustav Friedrich Hetsch, an architect of
Copenhagen, has attempted to restore the building.
Paphoss (Greek:
Πάφος,
Transliteration Pafos
Turkish: Baf),
sometimes referred to as Pafos, is a coastal
city
in the
southwest of
Cyprus and the capital of
Paphos District. In
antiquity, two locations were called Paphos:
Old Paphos[1]
and New Paphos.[2]
The currently inhabited city is New Paphos. It lies on the
Mediterranean coast, about 50 km (31.07 mi)
west of the
Limassol (the biggest port in island), which
has an
A6 highway connection.
Paphos International Airport is the country's
second largest airport.
 Near
Palaepaphos (Old Paphos) at the seaside of
Petra tou Romiou is the
mythical birthplace of
Aphrodite,
the
Greek goddess of
love
and beauty
and the
founding myth is interwoven with the goddess at
every level, so that Old Paphos became the most famous and important place for
worshipping Aphrodite in the ancient world. In Greco-Roman times Paphos was the
island's
capital, and it is famous for the remains of
the
Roman governor's palace, where extensive, fine
mosaics are a major tourist attraction. The
apostle Paul of Tarsus visited the town during
the 1st century AD. The town of Paphos is included in the official
UNESCO list of cultural and natural treasures of the
world's heritage.
 Paphos
enjoys a
Subtropical-Mediterranean
climate, with the mildest temperatures on the island. The typical
summer's season lasts about 8 months, from April to November, although also in
March and December sometimes there are temperature above 20 °C (68.0 °F).
 Titus Flavius Vespasianus, known in English as Vespasian (November
17
9AD –
June 23
79AD), was a
Roman
Emperor who reigned from 69 AD until his death in 79 AD. Vespasian was the
founder of the short-lived
Flavian dynasty, which ruled the
Roman
Empire between 69 AD and 96 AD He was succeeded by his sons
Titus (79–81) and
Domitian
(81–96).
Vespasian descended from a family of
equestrians which rose into the
senatorial rank under the emperors of the
Julio-Claudian dynasty. Although he attained the
standard succession of public offices, holding the
consulship in 51, Vespasian became more reputed as a successful military
commander, partaking in the
Roman invasion of Britain in 43, and subjugating the
Judaea province during the
Jewish rebellion of 66. While Vespasian was preparing to besiege the city of
Jerusalem
during the latter campaign, emperor
Nero committed
suicide, plunging the Roman Empire into a year of
civil war
known as the
Year of the Four Emperors. After
Galba and
Otho perished in
quick succession,
Vitellius
became emperor in mid 69. In response, the armies in
Egypt and Judaea themselves declared Vespasian emperor on
July 1. In his
bid for imperial power, Vespasian joined forces with
Gaius Licinius Mucianus, the governor of
Syria, who led
the Flavian forces against Vitellius, while Vespasian himself gained control
over Egypt. On
December
20, Vitellius was defeated, and the following day, Vespasian was
declared emperor by the
Roman
Senate.
Little factual information survives about Vespasian's government during the
ten years he was emperor. His reign is best known for financial reforms
following the demise of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, the successful campaign
against Judaea, and several ambitious construction projects such as the
Colosseum.
Upon his death on
June 23,
79, he was
succeeded by his eldest son Titus.
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