2936) Artemis, Greece: "Greek Mythology Coin Series": The Bank of Greece has issued a 100 Euro ("100 ΕΥΡΩ") Gold Proof Coin in its popular coin series featuring Artemis killing Acteon: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023:
The Header/Banner shows the Obverse and reverse of the 100 Euro (100 ΕΥΡΩ) Gold Proof Coin against an ancient background representation of Artemis drawing her bow and arrow to strike Acteon, who is being torn to pieces by his hounds.
The Bank of Greece has issued a 100 Euro (100 ΕΥΡΩ) Gold Proof Collector coin, which is part of its ongoing Coin Series titled - “Greek Mythology,” featuring some of the most well-known stories of the gods and goddesses.
The tales have been passed on from generation to generation and usually reiterate mankind’s ability or, sometimes, inability to tell right from wrong, often leading to great consequences.
Begun in 2014, the series depicts the many gods of ancient Greece as well as the myths surrounding their attributes and superhuman powers.
The tenth design features one of the most important and revered deities in the world of the gods and goddesses - Artemis.
Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and was born in Delos along with her twin brother Apollo.
Actaeon in Greek mythology was the son of the priestly herdsman Aristaeus and Autonoe in Boeotia, and a famous Theban hero.
Through his mother he was a member of the ruling House of Cadmus. Like Achilles in a later generation, he was trained by the Centaur Chiron.
The many depictions both in ancient art and in the Renaissance and post-Renaissance art normally show either the moment of transgression and transformation, or his death by his own hounds.
The legend of Artemis killing Acteon:
In the version that was offered by the Hellenistic poet Callimachus, which has become the standard setting, Artemis was bathing in the woods when the hunter Actaeon stumbled across her, thus seeing her naked.
He stopped and stared, amazed at her ravishing beauty.
Once seen, Artemis got revenge on Actaeon - she forbade him speech - if he tried to speak, he would be changed into a stag - for the unlucky profanation of her virginity's mystery.
Upon hearing the call of his hunting party, he cried out to them and immediately transformed into a stag.
At this he fled deep into the woods, and in doing so he came upon a pond and, seeing his reflection, groaned.
His own hounds then turned upon him and pursued him, not recognising him.
In an endeavour to save himself, he raised his eyes (and would have raised his arms, had he had them) toward Mount Olympus.
The Gods did not heed his plea (fearful of Artemis' wrath), and he was torn to pieces.
An element of the earlier myth made Actaeon the familiar hunting companion of Artemis, no stranger.
In Artistic depictions:
- In an embroidered extension of the myth, the hounds were so upset with their master's death, that Chiron made a statue so lifelike that the hounds thought it was Actaeon.
- In François Clouet's Bath of Diana (1558-59) Actaeon's passing on horseback at left and mauling as a stag at right is incidental to the three female nudes.
- Further materials, including fragments that belong with the Hesiodic Catalogue of Women and at least four Attic tragedies, including a Toxotides of Aeschylus, have been lost.
- Diodorus Siculus (4.81.4), in a variant of Actaeon's hubris that has been largely ignored, has it that Actaeon wanted to marry Artemis.
- According to the Latin version of the story told by the Roman Ovid having accidentally seen Diana (Artemis) on Mount Cithaeron while she was bathing, he was changed by her into a stag, and pursued and killed by his fifty hounds.
This version also appears in Callimachus' Fifth Hymn, as a mythical parallel to the blinding of Tiresias after he sees Athena bathing.
The "Bed of Actaeon":
In the second century AD, the traveller Pausanias was shown a spring on the road in Attica leading to Plataea from Eleutherae, just beyond Megara "and a little farther on a rock. It is called the bed of Actaeon, for it is said that he slept thereon when weary with hunting and that into this spring he looked while Artemis was bathing in it."
Symbolism regarding Actaeon:
- In Greek Mythology, Actaeon is widely thought to symbolise ritual human sacrifice in attempt to please a God or Goddess - the dogs symbolise the sacrificers and Actaeon symbolises the sacrifice.
- Actaeon also symbolises human curiosity or irreverence.
- The myth is seen by Jungian psychologist Wolfgang Giegerich as a symbol of spiritual transformation and/or enlightenment.
The Coin:
The 100 Euro (100 ΕΥΡΩ) Gold Coin has been minted by the Hellenic Mint at their facilities in Athens on behalf of the Bank of Greece and are designed by Maria Antonatou.
The Reverse of the 100 Euro (100 ΕΥΡΩ) Gold Proof Coin shows the primary image of Artemis which is inspired by an exquisite and rare krater-bell-shaped vase of the Classical period (c.470 BC) and is believed to have been made in Attica, Athens.
The painted artwork depicts the goddess Artemis shooting an arrow at Actaeon, who has fallen to the ground and is attacked by his hunting dogs.
The graceful rendering of the myth, which is considered one of the greatest of all Athenian vase paintings, captures Artemis drawing her bow for the coup de grace.
To the right of the depiction of Artemis is the year of issue, "2023", and above is the distinctive mintmark of the Greek Mint, a "stylised palmette".
To the right of the primary design is the text "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΜΥΘΟΛΟΓΙΑ" (“Greek Mythology”), and to the left is "APTEΜΗΣ" (“Artemis”).
The Obverse of the 100 Euro (100 ΕΥΡΩ) Gold Proof Coin depicts stylised symbols of the story of Artemis and Actaeon and intertwines the antlers of a stag and the outline of the front half of a stallion with a bow and arrow.
Above the depiction is the crest of the Hellenic Republic, and off-centred towards the left is the text "ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ" which is pronounced as "(H)ellenik(eh) Democratia" (meaning the "Greek Democracy").
Below the primary design is the denomination of "100 ΕΥΡΩ".
The specifications of the €100 ("100 ΕΥΡΩ") - One Hundred Euro) Coin are:
Country of issue: Hellenic Republic of Greece; Date/Year: 2023; Coin Series Theme: Greek Mythology"; Coin Theme: "APTEΜΗΣ" (“Artemis”); Denomination/Face Value: €100 (One Hundred Euro); Metal Composition: .9999 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 3.89 grams; Diameter/Size: 17.50 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Mint: Mint of Greece, on behalf of the Bank of Greece; Mintage: 1,200 pieces; Designer: Maria Antonatou.
- Each Proof-quality coin is presented in a custom Bank of Greece-branded case accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
- The vase, which the Reverse design is based upon, is currently part of the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it is also on display.
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
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