On the total majority of royal coins issued during the sole reign of Antiochos VIII,1 either the epithet Epiphanes (“Illustrious” or “[God] Manifest”) is attached to his name or his name is stated without any epithet. His coins therefore bear either the inscription ‘ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ’ or simply ‘ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ’.2 There is only one exception, a small issue of bronze coins minted at Antioch on the Orontes which bear the epithet Philometor (“Mother-loving”):3
|
Obverse: |
Radiate, diademed head of Antiochos VIII right; dotted border |
|
Reverse: |
‘ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ’ in two lines on right, ‘ΦΙΛΟΜΗΤΟΡΟΣ’ on left
(“of King Antiochos the Mother-loving”); eagle standing left, scepter behind
shoulder; control mark in outer left field;4 Seleukid
date ΒΣ (year 202 of the Seleukid Era, i.e. 111/10 BC) in exergue |
This small issue is a part of an extensive
series of bronze coins which was minted at Antioch mint from 121/0 BC (SE 192,
i.e. year 192 of the Seleukid era) to 111/10 BC (SE 202). Coins of this series
have the same design as the coins with the epithet Philometor, but
they bear the standard epithet Epiphanes and they are dated SE
192, ... , SE 200 and SE 202 (coins of this series dated SE 201 are not known).5 Whereas
coins of this series with the epithet Epiphanes are abundant,
the coins bearing the epithet Philometor are rare and they are
known from the year SE 202 only. Moreover, this epithet is not found elsewhere
on Antiochos VIII’s coins.
The epithet Philometor in
itself is strange considering the role of Antiochos VIII in the death of his
mother, Kleopatra Thea:6
Justin, Epitome of the Philippic History
of Pompeius Trogus, 39.2: Grypus (Antiochos VIII),
having thus recovered his father’s throne, and being freed from foreign perils,
found his life endangered by a plot of his own mother (Kleopatra Thea);
who, after betraying, from desire of power, her husband Demetrius (Demetrios
II), and putting to death her other son (Seleukos V, the oldest son
of Demetrios II), was discontented at her dignity being eclipsed by the
victory of Grypus, and presented him with a cup of poison as he was returning
home from taking exercise. But Grypus, having received notice of her
treacherous intention, desired her (as if to show as much respect for his
mother as she showed for him) to drink herself first, and, when she refused,
pressed her earnestly, and at last, producing his informant, charged her with
the fact, telling her, “that the only way left to clear herself from guilt,
was, that she should drink what she had offered to her son.” The queen, being
thus disconcerted, and her wickedness turned upon herself, was killed with the
poison which she had prepared for another.
Appian, Roman History, 11.69: After
Seleucus (Seleukos V, the oldest son of Demetrios II), Grypus (Antiochos
VIII) became king, and he compelled his mother (Kleopatra
Thea) to drink poison that she had mixed for himself. So justice
overtook her at last.
However, as Houghton, Lorber and Hoover mention
in SC II (Vol. 1, p. 502), this epithet was born apparently
without any irony. It is also attested by Eusebius of Caesarea7 and
by an inscription from Delos (ibid, p. 487).
List of known specimens
The following table shows all specimens known to Petr, et al.
The abbreviations A and P stand for Anvil
(obverse) and Punch (reverse) dies but the die identification is tentative
because details are not clearly visible on some coins.
03 Dec 2008, Lot 160.
3. A1/P2, 6.61 g, c. 19mm, s/a/a, Reference: Hunterian Coll. III, p. 103, No. 39 (Plate LXX,2)
(c) Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow.
4. A1/P3, 6.12 g, c. 19mm, s/a/a, Reference: Hunterian Coll. III, p. 103, No. 41.
(c) Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow.
6. A2/P4, 6.35 g, c. 19 mm, control mark and date off flan, Reference: Hunterian Coll. III, p. 103, No. 40.
8. A4/P5, 6.3g, 19 mm, control mark in outer l. field, date ΒΣ in exergue, Reference: Tom Kirby Collection (photo courtesy of).
9. A4/P6, 5.74g, 20 mm, control mark in outer l. field, date Β[Σ] in exergue, Reference: Tom Kirby Collection (photo courtesy of).
10. A5/P7, 5.54 g, 18-20 mm, control mark in outer l. field, unclear date in exergue, Reference: Petr Vesely Collection (A08-AE-02).
11. A5/P8, 5.18 g, 17.5-19 mm, control mark in outer l. field, date ΒΣ in exergue, Reference: Petr Vesely Collection (A08-AE-01).
12. A5/P8, 4.64g, 16-18mm, s/a/a, Reference: Tom Kirby Collection (photo courtesy of).
13. A6/P9, 5.61 g, 18 mm, s/a/a, Reference: This collection and ex: Zurqieh UAE.
14. A7/P9, 6.41g, 17-18 mm, s/a/a, Reference: Petr Vesely Collection (A08-AE-03),
15. A7/P10, 5.5g, 19mm, s/a/a, Reference: Münzen & Medaillen GmbH, Auction 17 (4 Oct0ber 2005), Lot 1046 (photo courtesy of).
16. A8/P11, 5.47g, 18mm, control mark in l. field, date off flan, Reference: Tom Kirby Collection (photo courtesy of).
17. A8/P12, 5.91g, 17-18mm, unclear control mark in outer l. field, unclear date, Reference: Petr Vesely Collection (A08-AE-04).
19. A-/P-, 5.96g, 18mm, clear control in outer l. field, clear date. Reference: Tom Kirby Collection ex: Obolos Web Auction 24, (21 August 2022) Lot 414.
