4266) Meteora (meaning ‘suspended in the air’) – A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Greece: 50 Euro Gold Coins feature the historic and culturally significant site in Kalampaka, in Thessaly in Northern Greece: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2025:
The Bank of Greece has issued 50 Euro Gold Proof Coins coins
as part of its “Cultural Heritage Coin Series”.
An ancient monastery is depicted atop a sandstone cliff
on the Reverse of the 50 Euro Gold Coin presented against a background representation of the Monastery atop the mountain.
Commenced in 2012, this annual series highlights
the many sites and structures in Greece which are both historic and culturally
significant.
For 2025, the region of Thessaly in Northern
Greece, specifically near the town of Kalampaka is the focus of the coin’s
design.
The rock formations of Meteora, towering sandstone
pillars which dramatically rise from the plains of Thessaly has been home to
Greek Orthodox Monasteries for almost a millennia.
The forbidding and isolated landscape attracted monks,
who settled there from the 11th century onwards. The naturally formed sandstone
pillars rise over 400 meters or, 1300 feet above the Plain of Thessaly and were
chosen by the Monks as they offered both serenity and safety.
The pillars were named Meteora – translated as ‘suspended
in the air’ and despite the incredible challenges and logistics to build these
structures, over time Meteora became home for 24 monasteries, most of them
built between the 14th-16th centuries.
Meteora also became home to the second largest monastic community in Greece after Mount Athos, and is regarded as a treasure trove of post-Byzantine art as several churches were painted by such 16th century masters as Theophanes the Cretan and Frangos Katelanos.
Landmark sites include the Monasteries of the Transfiguration of Christ - Great Meteoron, Barlaam, the Holy Trinity and St Nicholas Anapafsas.
Of the 24 monasteries built, only six survive today and have become popular sites for local visitors and tourists who are attracted by the unspoilt and breath-taking landscape and welcomed throughout the year.
In 1988, Meteora was added to the UNESCO World Heritage
List for its unique fusion of natural beauty and cultural significance.
More on Meteora from a Book titled "UNESCO PUBLICATIONS - TREASURES OF THE WORLD" (in my personal library):
Meteora is a collection of monasteries in the centre of
mainland Greece. In a region of almost inaccessible sandstone peaks, monks
settled on these “heavenly columns” from the 11th century onwards. Twenty-four
of these monasteries were built, despite incredible difficulties, at the time
of the great revival of the hermitic ideal in the 15th century. They provide an
excellent example of monastic architecture.
Hermits and ascetics began settling in this extraordinary
area probably in the 11th century.
In the late 12th
century, a small church called the Panaghia Doupiani or "Skete" was
built at the foot of one of these “heavenly columns”, where monks had already
taken up residence. During the fearsome time of political instability in
14th-century Thessaly, monasteries were systematically built on top of the
inaccessible peaks and, towards the end of the 15th century, there were 24 of
them. Many of them were built or renovated during the 16th century, a period of
prosperity and flourishing of monasticism at Meteora.
Famous painters came to the Meteora Monasteries, such as
Theophanes the Cretan and Frangos Katelanos, with expertise on the Paleologan
models of the Byzantine Art. They painted the churches and laid the foundations
of the Post Byzantine wall painting, even though the influences and the
borrowings of the Italian Art were severe. Theophanes the Cretan painted in the
Monastery of Saint Nikolas Anapafsas in 1527.
He was considered the ‘founder of the Cretan School of
painting’. The 16th century frescoes of the Monasteries mark a key stage in the
development of post-Byzantine painting. The Meteora Monasteries continued to
flourish until the 17th century. Today, only four monasteries – the Aghios
Stephanos, the Aghia Trias, Varlaam and the Meteoron – still house religious
communities.
Meteora is one of those places where natural and cultural
elements come together in perfect harmony to create a natural work of art on a
monumental, yet human scale.
The Gold Coins:
The 50 Euro Gold Proof Coins have been minted by
the National Mint – IETA at their facilities in Athens on behalf of the
Bank of Greece and have been designed by Maria Antonatou.
The Reverse of the 50 Euro Gold Coins
depicts one of the iconic monasteries perched atop the dramatic sandstone
cliffs of Meteora in Thessaly.
Along the left periphery is the stylised text “Μετεωρα”
with the year “2025” placed below the design along with the distinctive
palmette mintmark of the Greek National Mint.
The Obverse of the 50 Euro Gold Proof Coins
features a composite and montage of twelve crosses in a clustered pattern and
centred.
Placed in the middle of the cluster is the Hellenic crest
surrounded by a wreath of olive branches.
The text “ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΉ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΊΑ” (Hellenic Republic) is
shown above the primary design along the upper periphery and the denomination
50 ΕΥΡΩ is shown along the lower periphery.
The specifications of this Coin are:
Denomination Metal
Weight Diameter Quality Mintage Limit
50 Euro 99.99
Gold 1 g. 14 mm. Proof 1200 pieces
- Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
13) Ancient Greek Theatres, Greece: Hellenic Post has brought out a set of five stamps featuring the Ancient Theatres of Dodona, Nocopolis, Kassope, Amvrakia and Gitana (all in Epirus): Stamp issue date: 08.04.2020
14) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the Plague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
Other interesting posts on Greek Coinage and Commemorative Coins:
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
13) Ancient Greek Theatres, Greece: Hellenic Post has brought out a set of five stamps featuring the Ancient Theatres of Dodona, Nocopolis, Kassope, Amvrakia and Gitana (all in Epirus): Stamp issue date: 08.04.2020
14) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the Plague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"A VERY informative post. Thanks for sharing."
Thank you so much, Khanna sahab.
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