Acanthus
Akanthos, a city founded in the early 7th century BC, was likely established by colonists from Andros. Situated on the isthmus connecting the Acte Peninsula with Chalcidice, the city played a significant role in ancient Greek history. Akanthos served as a base for the Persians during Xerxes' invasion in 480 BC but later aligned with Athens. In 424 BC, it sided with the Spartan commander Brasidas, and in 350 BC, it was captured by Philip II. Akanthos' coinage, featuring the motif of a lion attacking a bull, is a prominent relic of the city, possibly stemming from its early connection with Persia. The lion-bull motif, which first appeared around 500 BC, continued to be used throughout the city's history, reflecting its enduring artistic and cultural significance.
The coinage of Akanthos stands out for its remarkable realism, particularly in the portrayal of the lion and bull. The lion's detailed maned head and the bull's precise features, such as its curved tail and grasping front claw, showcase the high skill of the city's die engravers. The symbolism of the lion-bull struggle is thought to have Anatolian origins, possibly linked to the worship of Cybele. Given the presence of lions and wild bulls in the region, such scenes may have been familiar to the city's citizens. The design on Akanthos coins, which appeared prominently during the 460s BC, further evolved with the addition of the city's full name, reflecting the city's growing civic pride and identity.
The lion-bull motif, with its ancient roots, can be traced back to the third millennium BC in Near Eastern art, notably on a ewer from Uruk, circa 3300 BC. By 500 BC, the motif became widely distributed, especially within the Achaemenid Empire, where it featured prominently at Persepolis. The symbolism behind this theme is open to interpretation, with suggestions ranging from its representation of royal power, an astronomical allusion, to a symbolic struggle between civilization (represented by the domesticated bull) and nature (symbolized by the untamed lion). Another interpretation posits the motif as apotropaic, intended to ward off evil. However, a more likely explanation lies in the use of lion-against-prey imagery in Homeric poetry, where lions are frequently used as metaphors for heroic aggression and divine inspiration, reinforcing the motif's deep connection to Greek consciousness.
Macedon, Akanthos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 470-430 BC. Bull collapsing to left, head raised, attacked and mauled by lion upon his back to right; tunny fish to left in exergue / ΑΚΑΝΘΙΟΝ around raised quadripartite square; all within incuse square. Desneux -, cf. 96 (O-/R85); SNG ANS -; HGC 3.1, 385. 17.14g, 30mm, 8h.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 77, 26 May 2014, lot 26; Ex David Walsh Collection, privately purchased in 2001; Ex Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 96, 7 June 1999, lot 93.