Ancient Coin Stories

Histaia was also called Oreos, but is reputed to not be the source of the infamous cookies, nor with the ‘stuff’ that makes them famous. Indeed, the city was mentioned in Homer, which was written long before the cookies.

Histaia was considered one of the four main cities of Euboia along with Chalkis, Eretria, and Karystos. Eretria did not issue coins during the time of Philip II, Alexander III, or the Era of the Diadochi, but the other cities did.

Pictured on this coin is Histaia, who is reputed to have founded the city. She was a daughter of Hyrieos, who was the son of Poseidon and Alkyone, who was the daughter of Atlas and Pleione. Hyreios was not one of the smarter characters in mythology, as he amassed a huge treasure and then hired two brothers to build a vault. They did so, but added in a secret passage so they could steal bits of the treasure now and then.

Angered, Hyreios installed a trap, since he otherwise had no idea why his treasure was diminishing. When one of the brothers became ensnared in it, the other cut off his brother’s head so Hyreios wouldn’t learn his identity. Evidently it wasn’t possible, using similar exertion, to just free him.

When Euboia revolted against Athens in 446 BCE, Histaia took part and every inhabitant was therefore removed by Athens and their own colonists put in their place. The city then changed its name to Oreos. That lasted until the end of the Peloponnesian War, when Sparta took over and put the original inhabitants back.

In 341 BCE, Philip II conquered Oreos and installed a tyrant. His rule didn’t last long, as Athens sent an expedition that put him to death.

Much later on, the city was besieged by Kassander, but the siege was broken with the arrival of Antigonos’ general Ptolemy.