Janiform Female Head Coin Pendant

Description

Lampsakos was a colony of Phokaia that was strategically placed at the entrance to the hellespont and rose to be a city of great importance. Although under Persian and Athenian control for much of the sixth and fifth centuries bc, Lampsakos managed to preserve its prosperity into the Hellenistic age.

This coin shows a Janiform female head of fine late archaic style. The reverse shows Athena in a Corinthian helmet.

Athena was primarily the goddess of the Greek cities, of industry and the arts, and, in later mythology, of wisdom; she was also goddess of war. Athena was also a patron of the agricultural arts, striking her staff upon the ground to give the Greeks grapes and the olive tree; and of the crafts of women, especially spinning and weaving. Among her gifts to man were the inventions of the plow and the flute and the arts of taming animals, building ships, and making shoes. She was often associated with birds, especially the owl.