Arabia, Adraa
Gallienus. 253-268 CE
Dated CY 151 (256/7 CE)
Æ 26.5mm, 13.37g, 12h
Radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front, gorgoneion on breastplate /
Dome-shaped baetyl on altar supported by columns; flight of steps between columns.
Spijkerman 17; RPC X Online 60692; Rosenberger 8; Sofaer 16
Adraa, one of the cities of the Decapolis, was situated in today’s Dara, Syria, which later became the cradle of the Syrian revolution. The city was mentioned as far back as Thutmose III of Egypt in the 15th century BCE. In the Torah, it was referred to as Edgar, the capital of Bashan.
It was mentioned under the name Adraa during Roman and Hellenistic times and was mostly under Seleukid control. I was drawn to this coin in particular due to the image of a baetyl, which were widely worshipped in the area.