{"product_id":"136767-crete-ae-unit-ca-200-bc-knossos-bronze-vf-20-25-sng-cop-378","title":"Crete, Æ Unit, ca. 200 BC, Knossos, Bronze, VF(30-35), SNG-Cop:378","description":"\u003cp id=\"head\"\u003eEurope seated to the right on a bull running to the left, surrounded by a draped circle behind her, two dolphins facing each other below.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp id=\"reverse\"\u003eLabyrinth pattern.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp id=\"comment\"\u003eThis small bronze unit is a coin with a centered strike revealing the entire design. Every element of both sides is visible, including the border of small lines on the obverse and dots on the reverse (grenetis). \n\nThe iconography of this coin is directly inspired by Greek mythology and myths associated with Crete. Europa, a Phoenician princess, is the mother of Minos, the famous king of Crete. She was kidnapped by Zeus, transformed into a bull, and taken to the island of Crete. This scene is depicted on the obverse. As for the reverse, it represents both the plan of the palace of Knossos and Daedalus' famous labyrinth. Built by the legendary architect on Minos' orders, it was intended to imprison the Minotaur, a monstrous creature with the body of a man and the head of an bull, whom he fed with Athenian tributes.\nThe two dolphins recall the maritime world and may be associated with Cretan maritime power or Poseidon, the god behind the temporary madness of Pasiphae, mother of the Minotaur.\n\nThis strongly iconographed coin is full of symbols and has a pleasing appearance thanks to its state of preservation and centering. A must-have! SNG Copenhagen 378 and Svoronos, Numismatique de la Crète Ancienne, Cnosos 122 (p.81), Pl. VII, 12. Faune d'Argent Collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp id=\"reverseCaption\"\u003eΚ Ν-Ω-ΣΙ-ΩΝ\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp id=\"weight\"\u003e3.52 gr\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"cdma","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55860738195788,"sku":"136767","price":900.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0637\/1655\/7029\/files\/136767A_c5b94763-4f23-4b12-95d4-414034d775ba.jpg?v=1762429757","url":"https:\/\/www.numiscorner.com\/products\/136767-crete-ae-unit-ca-200-bc-knossos-bronze-vf-20-25-sng-cop-378","provider":"Numiscorner.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}