Egypt, Saites Nome
Hadrian dated regnal year 11 (126-127 CE)
AE obol 18mm 4.9g
Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder /
Athena standing facing, head left, holding owl and spear; L IA (date) to right
Köln 3427; Dattari 6370; K&G N45.13; RPC III 6417; Emmett 1219.11
The Saites nome was centered in Sais, on the Nile delta and is the location where, according to Herodotus, the grave of Osiris was located. Evidence of settlements from at least 5000 BCE exist. According to Diodorus, Sais was built before the great flood, and while the Greek cities were overcome, it survived.
Today, not many ruins survive due to the removal of buildings by farmers. Obelisks in the Piazza della Minerva in Rome and in Urbino are reputed to have come from Sais.
The city was mentioned in Plato as where Solon hears the story of Atlantis. It was also the birthplace of Amasis II. Plutarch mentioned an inscription on a shrine to Isis here.