Crescent

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The crescent on ancient coinage, especially in the context of Greek and Roman numismatics, was a powerful symbol with rich associations that spanned mythology, astronomy, and political meaning. The crescent shape itself, resembling the new moon or waxing moon, was often used to evoke ideas of growth, transformation, and cyclical time. In the ancient world, where the movement of the moon was closely tied to agricultural cycles, the crescent became a prominent symbol of fertility and renewal.

In the Greek world, the crescent was closely connected to the lunar goddess Selene, who was often depicted riding a chariot across the night sky. Selene’s connection to the moon gave the crescent a divine association with the feminine, mystical, and celestial realms. The crescent could also symbolize the eternal cycle of life, as the moon’s phases were seen as a reflection of birth, death, and rebirth. For the Greeks, the crescent also had associations with immortality and divine favor, as the moon’s light was thought to imbue life with its rhythms and cycles.

The Roman use of the crescent carried these associations but also developed unique meanings, particularly in the imperial context. The crescent was often used in the iconography of the empress or female deities, emphasizing the connection between the goddess of the moon and the imperial family. In some Roman coins, the crescent was used to symbolize the status and power of women within the imperial system, such as on coins featuring the empress Julia Domna or Livia, where the crescent was sometimes shown as part of their royal regalia. The crescent, therefore, could denote both feminine divinity and imperial strength.

The crescent also had astrological significance and was commonly linked to fortune-telling, as the position and phases of the moon were seen as indicators of events to come. Its presence on coinage could signal good omens or divine favor for the state or ruler. It was sometimes paired with other symbols to emphasize a ruler’s strength or divine support, often as a way to strengthen the legitimacy of a new emperor or the prosperity of a specific reign.

Ariobarzanes III 52-42 BCE Arsiles 1st century BCE Ataxerxes III Okhos 343-337 BCE Athens 454-404 BCE Batis of Gaza 353-333 BCE Bizye, Thrace 405-387 BCE Bohémond III 1163-1201 CE Edom 4th century BCE Herennia Etruscilla 250 CE Madytos, Thrace 350-300 BCE Mazakes 331-323 BCE Pharaonic Kingdom 5th-mid 4th Cen BCE Pharkadon, Thessaly 400-350 BCE Pharnabazos 379-374 BCE Philomelion, Phrygia Early 1st Century CE Sabakes 340-333 BCE Sigeion, Troas 355-334 BCE Sophytes 323-240 BCE Thebe, Mysia 300-200 BCE Thespiai, Boeotia 390-350 BCE Tragilos, Macedon 400-380 BCE Yehud 375-332 BCE