CILICIA. Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Severus Alexander (222-235). Ae

CILICIA. Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Severus Alexander (222-235). Ae.

Obv: ΑΥ Κ Μ ΑΥΡ ϹЄΟΥΗΡ ΑΛЄΞΑΝΔΡΟϹ.
Radiate and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: ϹЄΛЄΥΚЄΩΝ ΚΑΛΥΚΑΔΝΩ.
Infant Zeus seated on throne facing, looking left, surrounded by three Corybantes striking shields with swords.

RPC VI online 7040; SNG BN 1004; SNG Levante 1033.

The Corybantes, initially linked to the Phrygian cult of Cybele, are part of the story of the early days of Zeus' life. Kronos wanted to kill all the children he fathered because an oracle had predicted that one of his newborns, once grown, would sooner or later dethrone him. To prevent this, being immortal themselves and unable to simply kill them, he swallowed them as soon as they were born. For this reason, his wife Rhea, on the advice of her parents, decided to give birth to Zeus in secret on the island of Crete. The Corybantes, described as armed warriors, were tasked with making a terrible noise by incessantly beating their swords on their shields, so that the cries of the newborn would not reach Cronos' ears and reveal Rhea's deception.

Condition: Near very fine.

Weight: 13.00 g.
Diameter: 28 mm. Estimate: € 100