Crete, Knossos c. 220 BC Bronze AE20 Depicting the Labyrinth *Extremely Rare*
£3,950.00
Crete, Knossos c.220 BC Bronze AE20
Europa with flowing veil, riding a bull to the left, with two dolphins below. Reverse: K-N/Ω/ΣI/ΩN, labyrinth, star above. Svoronos, Crète
Extremely Rare
20mm, 4.07g
An important piece from the classical world, any coins depicting the labyrinth are rare but to find one in this condition with this level of detail is a once in a lifetime event.
Ex Apollo to Apollo Collection; ex Kölner Münzkabinett Auktion 103, 2015, Los 23; ex Auktion Schulten, Köln 11.04.1988, Lot 123.
A detailed depiction of the Labyrinth of Knossos, built by the ingenious Attic inventor Daedalus for the Cretan King Minos to house the Minotaur. The latter—half man, half bull—was the result of the forbidden union between a bull and Queen Pasiphaë. In the end, the monster is slain by the Attic hero Theseus with the help of the king’s daughter, Ariadne. On the obverse, Europa, the mother of King Minos, is depicted.
1 in stock
