The Elegance of the Pomegranate Symbol: The Stater of Side

Side, one of the most important port cities on the Mediterranean coast of ancient Pamphylia, built its name and identity upon a single elegant symbol: the pomegranate. Unlike its rivals, which emphasized power, war, or mythological

heroes, Side, from the 5th century BCE onwards, placed this fruit, which bore its own name, on the silver staters it minted, thereby creating one of the most successful and enduring branding strategies of the ancient world. The coinage of Side, therefore, is not merely pieces of silver, but also the story of how a city immortalized its identity through a clever pun, proclaimed its fertility to the world, and engraved its artistic elegance onto metal.

The cornerstone of Side's numismatic identity is the word "Side" itself, which means "pomegranate" in the local Sidetan language. This direct phonetic link made the pomegranate symbol a perfect "canting emblem" for the city. From the first silver staters minted around the 470s BCE, a pomegranate fruit was depicted on the obverse of the coin. This was an ingenious method in a world with low literacy rates, instantly and unmistakably indicating the coin's origin. A merchant, upon seeing a pomegranate on the silver coin in hand, would immediately understand that it came from Side and was thus guaranteed by the city's commercial reputation.  

However, the meaning of the pomegranate extends far beyond this simple pun. The pomegranate was universally a symbol of fertility, fecundity, life, and prosperity in the ancient world and many cultures. Side's adoption of this symbol also emphasized the agricultural richness of the Pamphylian plain and the prosperity the city gained from its trade in products like olive oil. According to mythology, the heroine Side, from whom the city took its name, transformed herself into a pomegranate tree. Thus, this symbol united the city's name, economy, and founding legend in a single powerful image.  

Early silver staters of Side typically depicted a pomegranate on the obverse and the helmeted head of Athena, believed to be the city's patron goddess, on the reverse. This was a balanced composition, presenting both the city's economic identity (the pomegranate) and its cultural and religious ties with the Hellenic world (Athena).  

From the 4th century BCE onwards, a change in design occurred. Now, the obverse of the coins began to feature a standing figure of Athena holding Nike, the goddess of victory. On the reverse, the god Apollo was depicted sacrificing at an altar. However, even in these new designs, the pomegranate symbol never disappeared; it typically retained its place on the reverse, alongside the figure of Apollo, as a prominent secondary symbol. This demonstrates how deeply and inseparably the city's identity was integrated with this fruit.  

Side's wealth reached its peak, particularly during the Roman period. The city became one of the largest slave markets in the Mediterranean, and the enormous revenue generated from this trade was used for the construction of the monumental theater, temples, and agoras whose ruins we see today. Even the local bronze coinage minted during this period, while typically bearing the emperor's portrait on one side, continued to use the pomegranate symbol on the other.  

In conclusion, the mint of Side offers us one of the most successful and enduring examples of numismatic branding. While many cities expressed their power with lions, eagles, or warrior figures, Side cleverly and elegantly chose the pomegranate, symbolizing its name and fertility. This humble fruit, shining on the coinage of Side for centuries, conveyed to the entire ancient world that the city was not merely a wealthy port, but also possessed a strong identity and a memorable brand.

Source:
https://coinweek.com/coins-of-ancient-greek-pamphylia/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coinage_of_Side
https://www.goldeneaglecoin.com/item/side-pamphylia-ar-stater-430_400-bc-pomegranate--athena-vf#:~:text=The%20pomegranate%20on%20this%20coin,%2C%20olive%20oil%2C%20and%20textiles.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side,_Turkey