Ancient Coin Stories

Let coins tell their stories…

Cilicia, Soloi
400 – 350 BCE
AR Obol 10mm 0.66g
Helmeted head of Athena right /
ΣΟ; grape cluster with tendril, star right.
SNG Levante 47 var. (reverse), SNG BN 184-187 var. (reverse)

Soloi was extremely important during ancient times due to its proximity to the Cilician Gates. Pretty much every conqueror in history who wanted to get to or from Syria needed to get through them. This included Alexander the Great. To top it off, Soloi had an important harbor.

During Xenophon’s time, the area was ruled by Tiribazos. By Alexander the Great’s time, it was ruled by Balakros, who was against him in the Battle of Issos but later went over to him and became one of his most trusted satraps.

However, the city itself supported the Persians when Alexander arrived, so he imposed a hefty fine on it. After his death, the city came under the control of Ptolemy I Soter, though Demetrios I Poliorketes tried unsuccessfully to take it. After that, it moved between different diadochi – usually between the Ptolemies and the Seleukids. Being such a key location, no ruler could leave it alone.

333 BCE

Alexander the Great conquers Cilicia, including Aigai.Tarsos (where he became ill after a swim in the Kydnos River), Soloi, Issos, and Mallos, where he made sacrifices.

301 BCE

Following the victory in the Battle of Ipsos, Cilicia comes under Seleukid control with Seleukos I Nikator. This included Aigai.Tarsos, Soloi, Issos, and Mallos.

241 BCE

The Ptolemaic Kingdom takes vast territories as a result of the Third Syrian War against the Seleukids. Tyre, Byblos, Sidon, Mallos, Soloi, Tarsos, and Aigai come under Ptolemaic control.

102 BCE

Aigai, Tarsos, Mallos, and Soloi in Cilicia is affected by Roman efforts to reduce the level of piracy in the region.

67 BCE

Pompey the Great is assigned with reducing piracy in Cilicia and successfully does so, liberating Aigai, Soloi, Mallos, and Tarsos from their yoke. Many of the pirates are resettled in Dyme.

31 BCE
October

After the Battle of Actium (near Ambrakia), Augustus consolidates his control over the Roman Empire, and Cilicia is firmly incorporated as part of the Roman sphere of influence. Aigai, Tarsos, Mallos, and Soloi become part of the Roman Province of Cilicia.