Arkadia, Methydrion
Circa 368-340 BCE
Dichalkon AE 19mm, 5.59g, 12h
Laureate head of Zeus to right
Rev. ΜΕΘΥΔΡΕΙΩΝ Kallisto, in human form, seated to left, but falling backwards with her arms outstretched, pierced by an arrow shot by Artemis, the new-born Arkas laying on the ground, at her side.
BCD Peloponnesos 1572. HGC 5, 955
Ex collection of John Aiello
ex Auctiones GmbH December 2015
Per legend, Methydrion was founded by the same Orchomenos, son of the King Lykaon, as founded Orchomenos in Arkadia. After Megalopolis was founded, most of its inhabitants were moved there. However, it continued to exist as a village and was visited by Pausanias.
The city contained a temple of Poseidon Hippios.
Although difficult to make out on this example, the coin contains an image of Kallisto, in human form, falling backwards with her arms outstretched, pierced by an arrow shot by Artemis, the new-born Arkas laying on the ground, at her side.
Kallisto was a follower of Artemis, who expected chastity from her. However, Zeus tricked Kallisto by disguising himself as Artemis, with whom Kallisto slept. When Kallisto became pregnant, Artemis expelled her, then she was turned into a bear by the jealous Hera.
Her son Arkas was the founder of the Arkadians, and just before Kallisto was about to be shot by him during a hunt, Zeus sent her to the night sky where she became Ursa Major.
Megalopolis is founded by the Arkadian League as a counterweight to Sparta. Most of the inhabitants of Methydrion are moved there.