Cyclades, Amorgos, Aigiale
3rd-2nd century BCE
AE 15mm 3.60g
helmeted head of Athena right //
owl standing right with head facing, A-I / Γ-I across field, countermarked with smaller owl
cf. SNG Copenhagen-594 (without countermark), Lindgren III-93-A131c (plate example)
ex Henry Clay Lindgren Collection
ex Münzen & Medaillen 2007
Aigiale was an ancient city on the island of Amorgos. In ancient times, the island was known as the birthplace of the poet Semonides and also for the flax used for weaving high-quality chitons, which were named for the island. A popular red dye was also obtained there from lichen that grew on the island.
By Roman times, Amorgos was used for exile and the Byzantine emperor Alexius Commenus was sent there, where he built a monastery that is still in use today.
Aigiale was on the north part of the island, facing Naxos.