TheNewYorkSaleauctionXL

1101

Caria, Myndos. Silver Drachm (4.15 g), mid 2

century BC. Menedemos, magistrate. Laureate head of Sarapis

right. Rev.

MUNDIWN

, headdress of Isis atop two grain ears; in left field, magistrate’s name:

MENEDHMOS

;

below, winged thunderbolt. (Myndos Hoard - (but cf. 62 for same magistrate with grapes symbol, and 79

for same obv. die [A28], magistrate Theodoros);

VIII, 481, pl. LXXI, 18-20 (same dies); SNG Keckman

240 (same dies)). Some light porosity. Choice very fine.

$ 300

ex NFA MBS (18 October 1990), lot 333.

1102

Carian Satraps. Maussollos. Silver Tetradrachm (15.03 g), 377/6-353/2 BC. Laureate head of Apollo facing

slightly right. Rev. Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding labrys and scepter; in left field, ME monogram.

(SNG Kayhan 873; cf. SNG von Aulock 2359 (no monogram); cf. SNG Copenhagen 590 (same)). Well

struck on a nice round flan. All lightly toned. Extremely fine.

$ 2,500

ex Goldberg 36 (30 May 2006), lot 3522

Maussollos was perhaps one of the most famous of the Hekatomnid dynasts of Caria who nominally served the Great King of Persia

as regional satrap. He briefly participated in the Great Satraps’ Revolt (366-360 BC) against Artaxerxes III but soon returned to the

side of his Persian master, expanding his territory to include parts of Lycia, Ionia, and several islands. He embraced Greek culture

and increasingly involved himself in Greek affairs, instigating and supporting Rhodian involvement in the Social War (357-355 BC)

against Athens. Maussollos is perhaps most famous for his great tomb which he built at Halikarnassos after moving his capital from

Mylasa. This tomb was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world and gave us the word mausoleum in English. The

reverse depicts Zeus Labraundos, the patron deity of Mylasa and the Hekatomnid dynasty. Ironically it was in the god’s temple at

Labranda that assassins attempted to kill Maussollos in 353 BC.

1103

Carian Satraps. Pixodaros. Silver Didrachm (6.78 g), ca. 341/0-336/5 BC. Laureate head of Apollo facing

slightly right. Rev.

PIXWDAROU

, Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding labrys and scepter. (SNG Kayhan

891-2; SNG von Aulock 2375-6; SNG Copenhagen 597). Lightly toned. Extremely fine.

$ 1,500

ex Goldberg 36 (30 May 2006), lot 3523.

The Hekatomnid Pixodaros assumed power as dynast in Caria by driving out his sister. He subsequently secured his position by

courting the favor of Persia and assuming a role as satrap of Caria for the Persian Great King. He was evidently a very cautious

ruler, for he also attempted to gain the friendship of the increasingly powerful king of Macedon, Philip II. To this end he offered to

marry his eldest daughter to Philip’s eldest son, the illegitimate and reportedly half-witted Arrhidaios. When Philip’s younger son,

Alexander, learned of the proposed marriage alliance, he feared that it was a sign that he would be passed over as heir to the throne

and attempted to engineer his own betrothal to Pixodaros’ daughter. This plot suited Pixodaros even more, but it all fell through

when Philip discovered what was going on. The incident, sometimes described as “the Pixodaros Affair,” became a source of growing

friction between Philip and Alexander that marred their relationship in the last years of Philip’s life. Pixodaros appears to have died

sometime before Alexander’s arrival in Asia Minor at the head of the Macedonian army in 334 BC.