The Wealth of Pamphylia: The Coinage of Aspendos and Side

Pamphylia, a fertile plain stretching along the southern coast of Anatolia at the foot of the Taurus Mountains, was a region renowned for its wealth and commercial prowess in antiquity. Its name, derived from the Greek for "land of all tribes"

Pamphylia, meaning 'land of all tribes', has historically been a crossroads where diverse cultures converged. The two most prominent representatives of this wealth and dynamism were Aspendos and Side, the region's most important port cities. Both cities began minting silver coins in their own names from the 5th century BCE, proclaiming their economic power throughout the Mediterranean. However, the coinage of these two neighboring and rival cities reveals that, despite drawing from the same source of prosperity, they forged distinct and contrasting identities through their chosen symbols.  

Aspendos: City of Wrestlers and Slingers Aspendos's wealth was based on its commercial ties with the interior regions, facilitated by the Eurymedon (Köprüçay) River, which flowed through the city and was navigable by ships in antiquity. The city accumulated great wealth through the trade of salt, olive oil, wool, and especially its renowned horses. This economic power enabled Aspendos to mint high-quality silver staters on the Persian weight standard from the 5th century BCE.  

The most iconic design of Aspendos's coinage emerged around 400 BCE, presenting one of ancient numismatics' most dynamic scenes: two naked wrestlers grappling on the obverse. This depiction emphasized athleticism, a great passion in the Greek world, and the city's commitment to this cultural ideal. On the reverse, a soldier (slinger) preparing to hurl a stone with his sling was featured. This figure represented the city's military might and its particular renown in this field. Through its coinage, Aspendos conveyed to the world a strong and dynamic identity built upon athletic and military prowess.  

Side: The Enchanted City of the Pomegranate Side, Aspendos's neighbor and frequent rival, owed its wealth to its excellent harbor and maritime trade. Especially the trade of olive oil and, during the Roman period, slave trade, made the city one of the wealthiest centers in the region. Like Aspendos, Side also began minting its own silver staters in the 5th century BCE, but chose a very different path to express its identity.  

The unchanging symbol of Side's coinage was a pomegranate fruit. This choice represents one of the most ingenious branding strategies of the ancient world. For in the local Sidetan language, the word 'Side' meant 'pomegranate'. Thanks to this 'canting emblem', anyone holding the coin immediately understood which city it belonged to. The pomegranate, also a universal symbol of fertility, abundance, and wealth, further emphasized the city's agricultural prosperity. Side, instead of emphasizing its power and dynamism, opted for an elegant and memorable symbol that highlighted its name and abundance.  

Two Cities, Two Identities Despite these two great cities of Pamphylia minting coins in the same period, in the same region, and on the same weight standard, their numismatic identities were as different as night and day. While Aspendos proclaimed "We are strong" to the world with its wrestlers and slingers, Side declared "We are abundant and clever" with its pomegranate. These coins demonstrate that they possessed significant autonomy even under Persian rule and had the freedom to express their own identities.  

The conquest by Alexander the Great and the subsequent Roman dominion changed the fate of both cities. Their mints began to bear the portraits of the rulers of the new empires. However, the classical period silver staters they left behind remind us that Pamphylia's wealth stemmed not only from its land and sea but also from the unique and powerful stories they chose to tell the world about this prosperity.

Source:
https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6036/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspendos
https://www2.lawrence.edu/dept/art/BUERGER/CATALOGUE/037.HTML
https://www.goldeneaglecoin.com/item/aspendos-pamphylia-ar-stater-330_200-bc-wrestlers--slinger-chvf
https://www.turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/1966-antalya-myra-archaeological-site/1966/4
https://www.pinebeach.com.tr/en/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-ancient-city-of-aspendos#:~:text=The%20city's%20wealth%20was%20largely,cultural%20hub%20of%20its%20time.