Aeneid Exhibit Intro
Vergil's "The Aeneid" - a classic story told with coins and images. Click on images to read the details please.
Date: 04/26/2009
Leslie Perkins' Annual Exhibits of Classical themes shown by the use of coins and artifacts highlights a story for all times - Vergil's "The Aeneid". With thanks to Charley Rhodes, Harlan J Berk, Stephen Arnold, Marc Breitsprecher,Brett Telford,the ACCG and ACE for their generous donations and help.
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1) Vergil and Homer. 1) Vergil’s Aeneid was based on the works of Homer. Here we see(L - R) a plate showing Paris and Helen from the Iliad; a decorative Greek plate showing Achilles tending the wounds of Patroclus, his ally against the Trojans and close
Date: 04/26/2009
1) Vergil and Homer. 1) Vergil’s Aeneid was based on the works of Homer. Here we see(L - R) a plate showing Paris and Helen from the Iliad; a decorative Greek plate showing Achilles tending the wounds of Patroclus, his ally against the Trojans and close companion since childhood, wounded and killed ultimately by the Trojan Hector, whom Achilles then slew in revenge. The famous mosaic showing Vergil from Tunisia,(also shown on Tunisian dinar in exhibit); and the bust of Homer to the right.
2) Troy display
Troy display
Date: 07/09/2007
2) This exhibit shows the beginning of Aeneas’ journey with the fall of Troy.
Troy coins
3) Troy Coins
Date: 07/09/2007
3) 1st coin display case. Denarius of Caear showing Aeneas & Anchises, diobol of Pergamon showing Palladium, AE24 of Tripolis showing jugate heads of the Dioscuri, Tunisian dinar showing Vergil surrounded by the Muses, Tunisian dinar showing Neptune in his chariot, AE26 Pamphylia showing Athena with spear and patera, Antiocheia – head of Zeus enthroned.
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4) Aeneas carries his crippled father Anchises from Troy
Date: 07/12/2007
4) Aeneas carries his crippled father Anchises from Troy
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5) Aeneas and the famous Palladium from Troy
Date: 07/12/2007
5) Aeneas and the famous Palladium from Troy
wanderings display 2nd
6) Wanderings of Aeneas
Date: 07/09/2007
6) Aeneas wanders for many years, searching for a new homeland for his people. Each place he visits turns out to be unsuitable, but the god Apollo and the Penates continue to lead him to his new homeland, Italy. Coins in the case illustrated his trials and the lands he visited: Thrace (represented by replica of Larissa), Delos (represented by coin of Alexander I Balas showing Apollo on omphalos), Crete, Sicily (represented by a an AE14 of Smyrna showing a hand in a caestus for the funeral games held there). A Tunisian dinar showing an ancient ship, a denarius of Sextus Pompey showing Scylla, an AE Triens of Bruttium showing a tripod for Apollo’s guidance throughout the journey).
Dido display
7)Dido in Carthage
Date: 07/09/2007
7) Just as Aeneas is about to land in his destined homeland, Italy, the goddess Juno sends a storm and shatters his fleet. Juno hates all Trojans, especially those who, like Aeneas, are connected to the royal line. Aeneas and his mend wash up in Carthage where they are befriended by the beautiful Queen Dido. Dido and Aeneas fall in love.
Dido coins
8) Dido / Carthage - coins
Date: 07/09/2007
8) Coins related to Dido, Carthage, and her affair with Aeneas. Coin of Elagabalus showing Dido in a galley on the reverse, Coin of Volusian showing Dido bulding her city, coin of Nicopolis ad Istrum showing Cupid who put a love potion in Dido’s drink, Coin of Severus Alexander showing Venus Victrix holding the golden apple – Venus arranges for Dido to love Aeneas to protect him, Coin of Carthage showing a horse’s head, Jeton with an image of the goddess Rumor who spreads the story of Dido’s affair, Tunisian Dinar showing Jugurtha, Franklin Mint Great Moments in Opera showing Dido, and another Tunisian dinar showing Hannibal. When Dido kills herself, she begs the gods to send an avenger to destroy Rome – this will be Hannibal.
sibylline books 1
9) Sibylline books 1
Date: 07/09/2007
9) Aeneas, warned by the gods, flees Carthage and finally gets to Italy. There he consults the Cummaean Sibyl. The sibyl is a prophetess to whom Apollo gave the ability to foretell the future . She prophesies his future trials in founding his kingdom and leads him to the Underwold to visit his dead father. Sibyls in antiquity are distinguished by writing their prophecies in books. Here is a replica of the Sibylline Books which the Romans kept and consulted. These were made by student Amanda Shockely. Also shown is an illustrated edition of Vergil’s Aeneid.
sibylline books
10) Sibyls of antiquity - Sibyls as Prophetesses in the Ancient World.
Date: 07/09/2007
10) Sibyls of antiquity - Sibyls as Prophetesses in the Ancient World. The next Coin display shows the sibyls of antiquity, especially the Cummaean Sibyl. The ancients believed that she may have been the same woman as the Erytraean Sibyl, Heirophile, who claimed to have been born near Troy! There are also coins related to Aeneas’s future and to the descendants of Aeneas whom he sees in the Underworld.
Sibyl coins
11) Sibyls shown on Coins
Date: 07/09/2007
11) Coins included are 1. AE 12 showing Heirophile on the obverse and a sphinx on the reverse, 2. the Aphrodisian Sibyl (not attested in liaterature) on a denarius of Carisius, 3. Coin of Nicopolis showing Serapis as Pluto with Cerberus, 4. Coin of Pontos showing Medusa’s head, standing for the fury raised by Juno to harass Aeneas,5. Gibraltar coin showing Hercules and Cerberus to stand for the trip to the Underworld, 6. replica of a Cathaginain tetradrachm with Dido’s head standing for his meeting with her among the dead, 7. deanarius of Vespasian showing the sow with piglets that the gods foretell will mark the site of Aeneas’ new city, 8. Franklin Mint coin showing the Libyan Sibyl, 9. Coin of Tarsus showing club of Hercules, standing for Aeneas visit to the Ara Maxima where Hercules is worshipped as a god in Italy, 10. Franklin Mint coin showing the Cummaean Sibyl, 11. Franklin Mint coin showing the Libyan Sibyl.
Sibyl coins
12) Sibyl coins closeup
Date: 07/09/2007
12) Close up of the two ancient sibyl coins – 1. Heirophile and 2. the Aphrodisian sibyl. Accompanying pictures courtesy of Ancient Imports.
