★ Temple Stat ★

PONTOS. Neocaesarea. Caracalla (198-217). Ae. Dated CY 146 (209/10).
Obv: A KAI M AVPHΛI ANTΩNINOC.
Laureate and draped bust right.
Rev: KOIN ΠON NЄOKAIC MHTPO / ЄT PMR.
Tetrastyle temple of Ma " Anatolian Mother-Goddess" with interior wall visible and containing facing statue.
RG 22 var. (obv. legend); BMC 7 var. (same); Price & Trell fig. 174.
14,14 gr. 30 mm
Expressive portrait, good style for a provincial issue. Scandinavian private collector. N. Andersen collection Copenhagen 2003
The temple state of Comana/Neocaesarea; in Cappadocia/Pontos was the most important religious center for the god­dess Ma in the ancient world. According to the reports of ancient authors, the proprietor of the temple state, due to her mighty power, was greeted with much respect throughout the ancient world.
Strabo relates how in his time the city population consisted entirely of worshippers and temple slaves, and their num­ber exceeded 6000.
Then he gives information about
settlements around Amaseia such as Amisos, the temple states of Zela,Neocaesarea
and Komana.
The Cappadocia Temple States always had a special protection for the emperors of the time. The emperors have always visited and sacrificed gifts for the temple. Powerful priests pointed to the emperors as supreme priests for protection and independence. On this coin you can see that Caracalla taken as the protector and supreme priest.
Today, most researchers assume that the goddess Ma was one expression of the Anatolian Mother-Goddess. Her name resembling the babbling sound for “mother” in many languages.