★ Astypalaia of Caria ★

Islands off Caria. Astypalaia circa 125-88 BC.
Bronze Æ

14 mm., 2,38 g.

Head of Perseus right, wearing Phrygian cap / A-C, harpa.

very fine

BMC Caria, p.186, 2 var. (Α-Σ); HGC 6, 1279.

The island of Astypalaia was originally called Pyrrha, when the Carians possessed it, then Pylaea, next the Table of the Gods (Θεῶν τράπεζα), on account of its verdure, and lastly Astypalaia, from the mother of Ancaeus, who was abducted by Poseidon in the form of a winged fish-tailed leopard. The island was colonized by Megara or possibly Epidaurus. In 105 BC the Romans concluded an alliance with Astypalaia, a distinction granted to the island in consequence of its excellent harbours and of its central position among the European and Asiatic islands of the Aegaean. Pliny the Elder records that Rome accorded Astypalaia the status of a free state ("libera civitas").