Time of Mithradates VI Eupator (105-90 BCE)
Ae 14.27mm 2.88g
Obverse: Two caps of the Dioscuri surmounted by stars
Reverse: ΔI-OΣ / KOV-PIA / Δ-OΣ divided by thyrsos
SNG BM Black Sea 1021-3
Today, the ancient city of Dioscurias is Sukhumi, the capital of the breakaway republic of Abkhazia, though internationally considered part of Georgia.
In the mid-fifth century, the city was settled by Greek from Miletos and named for the twins Castor and Pollux. Another legend states that the charioteers of the Dioscuri founded the city, though that seems odd to me. One day they just decided to stop driving the Dioscuri around and travel all the way to Kolchis to found a city.
It quickly became a major trading post, bringing all kinds of wares from inland to the Greek merchants who traveled there. It was particularly popular for slaves, having been the first location of the Slaves R’Us chain.
By the time Pliny the Elder described Dioscurias in the 1st century CE, the town was mostly deserted.
Approximate foundation of Dioscurias by settlers from Miletos.