Tetradrachm - Pythagores with legend

In 1967 Johnston wrote an article in JHS regarding this type, and suggested that the unusual reverse may depict a relief map of the hinterland of Ephesos, showing from a bird's eye view the mountains Tmolos and Messogis between the river valleys of the Caÿster and Maeander, and the three mountain ridges of Madranbaba Dagi, Karincali Dagi, and Akaba Tepesi (see A. Johnston. 1967. "The Earliest Preserved Greek Map: A New Ionian Coin Type" in Journal of Hellenic Studies 87). In her reconstruction, the map served the troops under Memnon of Rhodes, one of the most capable Greek commanders and adversaries of Alexander the Great serving under the Achaemenid king, Darios III, and was issued under his authority sometime around 336-334 BC, immediately before he was defeated at the Battle of Granicus by Alexander. If Johnston's interpretation is correct, then this coin would be not only the earliest known Greek map in existence, but also the earliest relief map known. However, more recently it has been argued that the reverse is probably nothing more than merely an archaistic design, by an engraver who was probably Greek, as the kidarys and king's crown on the obverse are unlike their counterparts on true Achaemenid issues and reflect obvious Greek influence. This then leads to the question of who was responsible for issuing this unusual coin, with evidence suggesting that it may in fact be earlier than Granicus, perhaps struck under an earlier satrap, possibly either Tissaphernes or Pharnabazos. The most recent summary of the ongoing scholarship of this issue is discussed by B. Weisser, Archäologischer Anzeiger, 2009, p. 154ff.

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