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PAMPHYLIA

Pamphylia, the fertile coastal plain of Southern Anatolia, achieved great prosperity during the Hellenistic and Roman periods thanks to its wealthy port cities. The region was known for its agricultural production and maritime trade, and this wealth enabled its cities to strike impressive coinage.

Pamphylian Mints

The most important mints of the region are Aspendos, Attaleia (Antalya), Perge, Side, and Sillyon.

Aspendos - Athletic Ideal

Aspendos's silver staters feature one of the most dynamic and iconic designs in ancient numismatics.

  • Wrestlers and the Sling-Thrower: The obverse of the coins depicts two naked wrestlers locked in combat. This scene celebrates wrestling, a sport of great passion in the Greek world, and the athletic ideal (agon). On the reverse, a soldier (sling-thrower) is shown preparing to hurl a stone with his sling. This figure represents the city's military might and its particular renown in this field. According to some theories, the Greek word for sling, *sphendone*, may have been used as a type of "speaking emblem" (numismatic pun) due to its phonetic similarity with the city's name, Aspendos.

  • Economic Context: The widespread circulation of these high-quality silver staters in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE attests to Aspendos's significant role in Mediterranean trade and its economic power.

 

Side - City of the Pomegranate

Side's coinage employs clever symbolism reflecting the city's identity and economy.

  • A Numismatic Pun: The pomegranate, the city's main symbol, is a "speaking emblem." This is because the word "Side" means "pomegranate" in the local Sidetan language.95 This was an effective branding strategy, allowing anyone looking at the coin to instantly understand which city it belonged to.

  • Symbol of Prosperity: The pomegranate is also a universal symbol of fertility, abundance, and wealth. Its use on Side's coinage emphasizes the region's agricultural productivity and the prosperity gained from its maritime trade in products such as olive oil. Its emergence as an important slave trade center during the Roman period also contributed to the city's wealth.