Phoenicia, Berytus
1st century CE
AE 13mm 2.00g
Obv: COL, Marsyas standing left, holding wine-skin
Rev: BER Prow right
RPC I 3858; SNG Copenhagen 89
Little is known about Berytus during Hellenistic times, except it was destroyed in 140 BCE by the Seleukid Diodotus Tryphon in a dynastic struggle. In 64 BCE, it came under the control of the Romans under Pompey and was incorporated into the Roman Empire.
Augustus placed two Roman legions in the city and it quickly became the most Roman city in the region. By the time of Trajan it contained roughly 50,000 inhabitants.
The chief god of Berytus was Poseidon, who is depicted on many of their coins, though not on this one. The city was a principal trader of silk and wine and housed an extremely important law school.
The town of Biruta, later Berytus, destroyed by Diodotus Tryphon
Laodikeia in Phoenicia renamed to Berytus by the Romans
Berytus renamed to Colonia Iulia Augusta Felix Berytus by Herod the Great
Berytus heavily damaged by an earthquake, killing 30,000 people