Akarnania. Federal Coinage (Akarnanian Confederacy). Leukas mint circa 167-50 BC.
Stater AR

25 mm, 8,89 g

ΛYKOYΓOΣ, head of the river god Acheloos right / AKAPNANΩN, Apollo seated left, holding bow and resting left elbow on arm of seat; in left field, monogram.

Very Fine

BMC 4; BCD Akarnania 22.1; HGC 4, 721.

Achelous was an important figure in Greek mythology, typically depicted as a river god. He was often portrayed as a bearded man with the horns of a bull, symbolizing his association with rivers, fertility, and the natural world. Achelous was considered the personification of the river bearing his name, which flowed through central Greece. In Greek mythology, Achelous played various roles, but he was most famously known for his rivalry with the hero Heracles (Hercules). According to myth, Achelous competed with Heracles for the hand of Deianira, the daughter of King Oeneus. To win her hand, Achelous transformed into different shapes during a fierce battle with Heracles. At one point, he turned into a bull, but Heracles managed to defeat him by breaking off one of his horns. Achelous was also associated with the origin of rivers, as he was believed to be the father of many nymphs and river deities. Additionally, he was considered a symbol of abundance and fertility, as rivers were essential for the prosperity of ancient civilizations by providing water for agriculture and transportation. Overall, Achelous represents the elemental forces of nature, particularly the power and importance of rivers in ancient Greek culture and mythology.