for many scholars, bunch of grapes or amphorae placed on many Greek coins were advertising messages for the agricultural products exported by the issuing cities. In reality, Greek coins were official expression of the political power of the issuing city, with images of gods, ad their symbols, chosen as being most representative of the community identity. The bunch of grapes, and the kantharos cup, present as a type in many issues of Magna Grecia and Sicily were symbols of Dionysus/Bacchus, enthroned in Tarantine coins, and of his important gift of the wine, a vital liquid with the colour of blood which bring liberation from death in Orphic Mysteries
Why is Dionysus and wine found on the coins of Magna Graecia and Sicily?
CARROCCIO, Benedetto
2008-01-01
Abstract
for many scholars, bunch of grapes or amphorae placed on many Greek coins were advertising messages for the agricultural products exported by the issuing cities. In reality, Greek coins were official expression of the political power of the issuing city, with images of gods, ad their symbols, chosen as being most representative of the community identity. The bunch of grapes, and the kantharos cup, present as a type in many issues of Magna Grecia and Sicily were symbols of Dionysus/Bacchus, enthroned in Tarantine coins, and of his important gift of the wine, a vital liquid with the colour of blood which bring liberation from death in Orphic MysteriesI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.