Epeiros. Koinon of Epeiros circa 232-168 BC.
Drachm AR

20 mm, 4,92 g

Head of Zeus Dodonaeus to right, wearing oak wreath; monogram behind / Eagle with closed wings standing to right on thunderbolt; ΑΠΕΙ-ΡΩΤΑΝ around; all within oak wreath.

extremely fine

BMC 24; SNG Copenhagen 114; HGC 3.1, 171; Franke, Epeiros (V35/R51).

Ex Auction Alde, Paris 10/2017, Lot 176. Zeus Dodonaeus refers to Zeus in the specific cultic context of Dodona, one of the oldest and most revered religious sites in ancient Greece. Dodona was located in Epirus, in the northwestern part of Greece, and it was renowned for its oracle dedicated to Zeus. At Dodona, Zeus was worshipped as Zeus Naios or Zeus Naos, and the oracle was famous for its prophetic priestesses, known as the "Doves of Dodona" or "Pelasgian Doves." The primary method of divination at Dodona involved listening to the sounds and rustling of the sacred oak trees, as well as the cooing of doves. The priestesses, believed to have the gift of prophecy, would interpret these natural sounds and provide oracular guidance to those who sought it. The cult of Zeus Dodonaeus at Dodona was distinct from other Zeus cults in Greece, and the sanctuary held a special place in the religious and cultural landscape of the ancient Greek world. Pilgrims and supplicants from various regions would travel to Dodona to seek the wisdom and guidance of Zeus through the oracle. The sanctuary continued to be significant throughout antiquity, reflecting the enduring reverence for Zeus Dodonaeus in ancient Greek religious practices.