Ancient Coin Stories

Let coins tell their stories…

Arkadia. Mantineia
370-240 BCE
15.80mm 3.45g
Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet
Reverse: MAN, Poseidon seated left on rock, holding trident and dolphin
MC Peloponnesos 1489.2
Ex BCD Collection (not in LHS sale)Purchased December 1976
Ex CNG
Ex Marc Breitsprecher

Mantineia is probably best known for the Second Battle of Mantineia, when an army of Athens and Sparta was defeated by Thebes. It turned out to be a Pyrrhic victory, however, because their leader Epaminondas died. With his passing, the hegemony of Thebes ended and within a short time they would be defeated by Philip II of Macedon and then annihilated by Alexander the Great.

The city was founded in roughly 500 BCE from several surrounding cities, and Poseidon was their designated patron-god. This can be seen from the obverse of this coin. North of the city was a temple of Artemis Hymnia, which was run by a celibate priestess. She was not even allowed to enter a private residence.

One such priestess of the temple near Mantineia was Diotima, who in Plato’s Symposium is attributed by Socrates to teaching him the philosophy of love.

The city also boasted of one of the most technologically advanced dams for the time.

During the Peloponnesian War, like pretty much every city of the time, it changed sides. Mantineia started on the side of Sparta, but later switched to Athens. At the time Pausanias visited it, most of the city was in ruins.

530 BCE

Death of Battos III of Kyrene, who with Demonax of Mantineia had reformed Kyrene’s constitution. Arkesilaos III becomes king.

518 BCE

Arkesilaos III of Kyrene wishes to revert the laws setup by Demonax of Mantineia. This leads to armed conflict where he is defeated and flees to Samos.

480 BCE

The Battle of Thermopylae. Soldiers from Sparta, Mantinea, Tegea, Orchomenos (Arkadia), Corinth, Phlious, Thespiai, Phokis, Opuntian Lokris, and other cities are overrun by the Persians at a huge cost.

421 BCE

Argos organizes an alliance with Mantinea, Corinth, Elis, and Thebes against Athens and Sparta.

418 BCE

Sparta and their allies Tegea defeat Athens and their allies Argos, Mantineia, Kleonai, and Aegina in the Battle of Mantineia. As part of the truce, Argos gives up its alliance with Athens and Elis, Orchomenos is given to Sparta, and Athens is evicted from Epidauros.

415 BCE

The Sicilian expedition of Athens against Syracuse departs. Ainos, Argos, Mantineia, and Elis provide support. Akragas remains neutral.

387 BCE

Sparta uses the Peace of Antalkidas to break Mantineia into multiple villages.

385 BCE

Mantineia is defeated by Sparta and the city is destroyed and split up.

362 BCE

Epaminondas and Boeotia defeat Sparta at the Battle of Mantinea. However, the death of Epaminondas would spell Thebes‘ downfall. On the side of Thebes were Tegea, Argos, Messene, Sikyon, and the Aenianians. On the side of Sparta were Heraia, Athens, Elis, and Mantinea.

362 BCE

Epaminondas and Boeotia defeat Sparta at the Battle of Mantinea. However, the death of Epaminondas would spell Thebes‘ downfall. On the side of Thebes were Tegea, Argos, Messene, Sikyon, and the Aenianians. On the side of Sparta were Heraia, Athens, Elis, and Mantinea.

223 BCE

Mantineia is sacked by Antigonos III Doson. The city is handed over to Aratos of Sikyon, who repopulates it and renames it to Antigonia.

125 CE

Hadrian restores the Temple of Poseidon Hippios in Mantinea and changes the city’s name back to Mantinea (from Antigoneia).