Apameia on the Axios
circa 300-281 BCE
AE 20 mm, 7.69g
Obv: Elephant standing right
Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ Horned and bridled horse’s head to left; below, anchor to left.
HGC 9, 79. SC 35. WSM 1128
Apameia on the Axios, also called Apameia on the Orontes, was one of three cities Seleukos I Nikator built and named in honor of his wife, Apama. During ancient times, the city was simply referred to as Apameia, as it was the largest of the cities so named.
This particular Apameia was founded somewhere between 301 and 299 BCE. This coin was among the earliest minted there, having been dated to roughly its first twenty years.
Along with Antioch, Laodikeia, and Seleukeia, Apameia was one of the four main cities of the Seleukid Empire. The city was the military headquarters of the empire and housed most of its war elephants. That’s a likely reason an elephant appears on the obverse of this coin.
When Demetrios I Poliorketes was taken captive by Seleukos, he was held prisoner in Apameia and eventually died there.
Apamea on the Axios founded as a Macedonian military camp with a name of Pella.
The Macedonian camp of Pella is fortified by Seleukos I Nikator and renamed Apameia in honor of his wife Apama.
Apamea on the Axios becomes the primary base for the usurper Diodotus Tryphon.
Pompey winters at Antioch and destroys Apamea.
46 BCE
Apameia on the Axios remains under siege by Julius Caesar until Cassius’ arrival.
An army under the Pompeian general Quintus Labienus and Partians briefly occupy Apameia on the Axios.
Citizens of Apameia on the Axios spare the Jews living among them despite orders for their execution.