Pisidia, Prostanna
1st century BCE
AE 2.20g 12mm
Obv: Mount Viaros within dotted circle.
Rev: ΠΡΟC. Tree.
von Aulock, Pisidiens II, 1754-9; SNG Burdur 1403-4; SNG BN 1706
The ruins of Prostanna have been positively identified based on inscriptions found at its ruins. The walls of the acropolis and the remains of some temples have been found. In 1948, a border stone was found at the boundary between Prostanna and Parlais.
Although its provincial coinage is more common, this issue dates to roughly the 1st century BCE, when it was likely first under Roman control, and depicts Mount Viaros within a dotted circle on the reverse. Several trees are depicted on top of it. The obvious conclusion is the mountain was sacred, though all of the details not depicted on these coins has been lost. The trees may be spruce or pine, and likely played a major part. Others think it was a fig. The worship of mountains was common in ancient Anatolia, and other mountains are depicted on other coinage.