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Septimius Severus AE Nicopolis ad Istrum Moesia 201-203 7th labor Herakles Bull
Septimius Severus, AE Tetrassarion, Nicopolis ad Istrum, Moesia Inferior, 201-203, Aurelius Gallus as legatus Augusti pro praetore
Vendu "295.00$" le "07-03-2025"
VenduHH&J, Nikopolis 8.14.14.33; AMNG 1309 var. (bow below bull); Varbanov 2710. (Same die as Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 544, 16/08/2023, lot 271)
Obv.: AVT Λ CEΠT CEVHP ΠEP, Laureate head of Septimius Severus right.
Rev.: VΠ AVP ΓAΛΛOV NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOC ICTP, Part of the Seventh Labor of Herakles: Herakles(Hercules) and the Cretan Bull: Herakles standing left, wrestling the Cretan Bull and grabbing its horn and neck.
13.04 g
28.3 mm
Smoothing.
Herakles' seventh labor was to capture the Cretan Bull. Minos, the king of Crete, gave the hero permission to take the bull away, as it had been causing destruction on the island. Herakles subdued the Bull with his bare hands, and shipped it back to Athens. Although Eurystheus wished to sacrifice the bull to Hera, the goddess refused the sacrifice because it reflected glory on her sworn enemy. The Bull was released and wandered into the town of Marathon, where it became known as the Marathonian Bull. (cf. CNG)
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