Ionia. Phokaia circa 387-326 BC.
Sixth Stater or Hekte EL

10 mm, 2,52 g

Head of Artemis left, quiver behind; seal below / Quadripartite incuse square.

Very Fine

Bodenstedt 99.

From a southern German private collection; Ex Numismatik Naumann Auction 39, Lot 354. Artemis is a prominent figure in Greek mythology, known as the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, childbirth, and virginity. She is the twin sister of Apollo, the god of the sun, and daughter of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Leto, a Titaness. Artemis is typically depicted as a youthful and vigorous maiden, often with a bow and arrows, as well as accompanied by hunting dogs or deer. She is fiercely independent and protective of her virginity, often shunning the company of men and preferring the solitude of the forest. As the goddess of the hunt, Artemis is a skilled archer and hunter, and she is often associated with wild animals and nature. She is also revered as a protector of young girls and women, particularly during childbirth. Artemis plays a significant role in various myths and legends, and she is worshipped in ancient Greece as one of the twelve Olympian gods. Her cult was widespread throughout the Greek world, and she was often invoked by hunters, athletes, and women in labor.