Thracia, Odessos, Gordian III & Great God, AMNG 2371
Gordian III AD 238-244
AE 27, 11.40g
struck probably AD 238
obv. AVT M ANT GORDIANOC / AVG
confronted busts of Gordian III, draped and cuirassed, laureate, r., and the Great God of Odessos, in himation and with kalathos, holding cornucopiae, l.
rev. ODHC - C - EITWN
price-crown, decorated with zigzag lines, two palm-branches sticking up from the opening, inscribed with DARZALEIA
in the field below E (for Pentassarion)
AMNG 2371; Moushmov 1675
rare, about EF

DARZALEIA were games in honour of the Great God of Odessos. This type is one of the proofs that the Great God and the Thracian god Darzelas were mixed together. In AD 238 such games took place problaby in the presence of the emperor (Pick p.528). 


Contributed by Hans-Joachim, October, 2006.