Ancient Greece - AR Stater - BOEOTIA, Thebes - Federal Coinage - Circa 395-387 BCE
$3,200
Denomination: AR Stater
Mint: BOEOTIA, Thebes
Date: Circa 395-387 BC.
Weight: 11.26 gm
Description: Reverse: Amphora; BO-10 across field, grape bunch above.Front facing side shows letters "BO-I", with crescent moon facing left across field. A large wine cup, or "kantharos" is set off-center, with a club facing right, floating above. Obverse: Shows a Boeotian shield (pronounced "Be-ocean"), centered and well-pronounced.
History: The coinage of Thebes may be thought of as ‘ancient advertisement’, with a trophy or urn depicted on the front, and a shield on the back. These people were artistic, intelligent, and strong both politically and militarily. As neighbors of Greek Attica, Thebes was a major force to be reckoned with. It was the most dominant city-state at the time of the Macedonian conquest, and home of the Boeotian confederacy. In 336 BC, Thebes was destroyed by Alexander the great, but later restored by Kassander.
Boeotian shield was a primary weapon of defense for ancient Greek warriors. It's lengthy size protected the wearer from chin to knee, and was typically worn on the left arm. A handle and grip on the inside of the shield allowed the wearer to gain protection with a swift rotation of the left elbow, and created space between warrior and opponent. Typically, this weapon was paired with a lengthy spear-like weapon called an asp, which was held in the right hand for both protection and wound infliction. The Boeotian shield is easily identified by its semicircular indentations at the middle of the shield. Thebes was one of the few city-states in Ancient Greece to embrace lifelong same-sex partnerships. The city was home to the Sacred band of Thebes, an elite military unit made up of 150 pairs of male lovers who served in the Theban army in the 4th century. Arch-rival to Athens and allies to the Spartans in the Peloponnesian wars, Boeotia was a region of ancient Greece and Thebes was its capital. Thebes is birthplace of many mythological stories including Dionysus, Oedipus, and Cadmus.
