★ Themistokles ★

Ionia. Magnesia ad Maeander . Themistokles 465-459 BC.
Hemiobol AR

8 mm, 0,32 g

Head of Hephaistos right, wearing laureate pileos / ΘE monogram in dotted square within incuse square.

Very Fine, holed

Nollé & Wenninger Th5a var. (legend also on obv.).

Hephaestus, the venerable Greek god of blacksmiths and craftsmanship, stands as a multifaceted figure in the pantheon of Olympian deities. Born to Zeus and Hera, he exhibited unparalleled skill in the forge, fashioning divine weaponry and artifacts for the gods of Mount Olympus. Renowned for his craftsmanship, Hephaestus forged the mighty thunderbolts of Zeus and the legendary armor of the hero Achilles. Yet, Hephaestus' journey was not without adversity. Cast from Olympus by his mother Hera due to his physical deformity or, in some versions, by Zeus in a fit of rage, Hephaestus fell to the island of Lemnos. Rescued by sea goddesses Thetis and Eurynome, he returned to his divine abode, embodying resilience and creativity. His union with Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, added a layer of complexity to his narrative. Despite her dalliances with other gods and mortals, Hephaestus's kindness and mastery in craftsmanship endeared him to her.