4th-3rd centuries BCE
AE 20.27mm 7.90g
Obverse: Head of Hera facing, wearing stephane and earrings
Reverse: ΓOMФ-ITOYN, Zeus Palamnaios seated left, holding thunderbolt and scepter
Rogers 216; BCD Thessaly II 71.4
Gomphoi was an important military site due to its location guarding two passes into the Thessalian plains. Most of our recorded history of it comes from the time of Philip V, who used it as a rallying point. We know very little of its history during Alexander the Great.
However, it certainly appears that Philip II renamed the city Philippopolis in honor of his favorite king. That name seems to have disappeared by the time the Romans came along.
I also find it intriguing how the reverse looks with Zeus Palamnaios resembles Alexander the Great’s silver coinage. Since Thessaly was under his control, my suspicion is it was no coincidence.
From the obverse, there also appears to have been a temple to Hera in the city. Indeed, from further research there appears to have been a cult to Hera in Thessaly, although I wasn’t able to find much more information about it.
Amynander, King of the Athamanes, in cooperation with the Romans, takes Gomphoi.
Julius Caesar, having been repulsed at Dyrrhachion, arrives at Gomphoi but they bar their gates. He takes the city by force.