Myra and the City of Santa Claus

Located in the heart of Lycia, in southwestern Anatolia, Myra (modern-day Demre) was renowned as one of the "most brilliant cities" of the ancient world. Its striking rock-cut tombs, magnificent Roman theater, and

its bustling port of Andriake, Myra, the metropolis of the region, proclaimed its wealth and importance throughout the Mediterranean with the coins it minted. However, Myra's fame extends far beyond ancient gods and dynasties. Saint Nicholas, who served as bishop of this city in the 4th century CE and became legendary for his generosity, became the inspiration for the figure known today worldwide as "Santa Claus." Myra's numismatic legacy, therefore, tells us the story of two different worlds: on one hand, the silver coins of pagan goddesses and democratic leagues, and on the other, the legends of a saint's generosity with his purses full of gold coins.  

Myra's existence as a city can be traced back to at least the 5th century BCE, thanks to Lycian inscriptions and coins. The city was one of the six most important members of the Lycian League, the ancient world's first and most successful democratic federation, and held three votes in the League's assembly. This prestigious position enabled the city to mint coins both in its own name and on behalf of the League. League coins minted in Myra bore the standard design of the federation: on the obverse, a laureate portrait of Apollo, the League's patron deity, and on the reverse, his symbol, the lyre (kithara). As part of this common identity, the monogram "M-Y," representing the first two letters of the city's name, would appear on the reverse to indicate the mint.  

Myra's own autonomous coins, however, point to the city's deeper, local Anatolian roots. The most striking feature of these coins is the depiction of Artemis Eleuthera (Artemis the Bringer of Freedom), the city's chief goddess, in the form of Cybele, Anatolia's most ancient mother goddess. This is strong evidence of how Greek and Anatolian cultures intertwined in Lycia and how Hellenistic deities were reinterpreted with local beliefs. This tradition was continued on Roman Provincial bronze coins, where Artemis was often depicted with her bow and arrow, accompanied by a stag.  

The greatest transformation in Myra's story occurred with the rise of Christianity. Nicholas, born in the neighboring city of Patara in 270 CE and later becoming Bishop of Myra, gained fame for his generosity and miracles. The most famous legend about him is his secret assistance to three daughters of a poor father who were about to be forced into prostitution due to lack of dowry money. According to the legend, Nicholas, on three consecutive nights, threw a purse of gold coins through the family's window, enabling the daughters to marry honorably. This story formed the basis of his tradition of secret gift-giving and ultimately the modern figure of Santa Claus. Today's chocolate coins left in children's shoes are a millennia-old reflection of this generosity performed by Saint Nicholas in the streets of Myra.  

Since Saint Nicholas lived in the 4th century CE, no ancient coin bearing his portrait exists; as during this period, only the portraits of emperors were struck on coins. However, his legacy continued to live on through the church built in his name after his death and the legends that spread throughout the world.  

In conclusion, Myra is a unique city standing at the intersection of two different eras. Its mint, on one hand, produced silver coins bearing the democratic ideals of the Lycian League and the ancient heritage of the mother goddess Cybele, while on the other hand, the city's streets witnessed the legend of a saint whose generosity was measured in gold coins – namely, Santa Claus. This is a numismatic and cultural summary of the transition from paganism to Christianity and how a city's identity transformed over time.

Source:
https://www.turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/1966-antalya-myra-archaeological-site/1966/4
https://www.kuveytturk.com.tr/blog/kultur-sanat/en-parlak-sehir-myra-antik-kenti
https://www.coinarchives.com/a/results.php?search=myra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Nicholas