CARIAN ISLANDS. Cos. Ca. 4th century BC. AR tetradrachm (25mm, 15.17 gm, 10h). NGC XF★ 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. Chian standard, ca. 380-350 BC. Eracleitus, magistrate. Head of Heracles right, wearing lion skin headdress / ΚΩΙΟN, crab, viewed from above; HPAKΛEITOΣ above horizontal crab below. HGC 6, 1302. As a significant participant in the Carian civilization, which thrived from the Bronze Age to the Classical period, Cos was a beacon of culture, intellect, and historical evolution in the southeastern Aegean. Known far and wide for its medical prowess, it hosted the Asclepeion, a sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine. The island also carries the distinction of being the birthplace of the renowned ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, affectionately dubbed the 'Father of Medicine'. Cos was ultimately Hellenized, and under Alexander the Great, it became an important naval base. The architecture and artifacts discovered on the island - including a gymnasium, an odeon, Roman villas with intricate mosaics, and the monumental plane tree reputedly planted by Hippocrates himself - serve as enduring symbols to the island's rich historical tapestry. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

To the auctioneer's website