Thyateira (AD 193-211) AE 43 - Septimius Severus

Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD. AE43 - Medallion (42.92g, 6h). Asiaticus Hermogenes, strategus. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Hephaestus seated left on wreathed cippus, putting finishing touches with hammer on a Corinthian helmet set on low column, while Athena, standing left and holding spear and shield, touches top of column. VF, attractive dark brown patina. Extremely rare. From Group CEM.

As related by Homer (Iliad 18), Achilles’ armor was lost when, still sulking in his tent, he allowed his companion Patroclus to wear it while he spurred the Greeks into a battle on the plains below Troy. Overconfident, Patroclus met Hector in single combat. Mistaking Patroclus for Achilles, the Trojan hero Hector brutally killed him and dragged off Patroclus’ still-armored corpse as a war prize. Achilles’ mother, the sea nymph Thetis, persuaded the god Hephaestus to construct a new set of armor, among which a highly decorated shield was included.