Soloi, Cyprus - Ancient Coin Stories

CYPRUS, Soloi. Pasikrates (Stasikrates)
Circa 330s-310s BCE
Æ Unit 18.5mm, 7.00 g, 9h
In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin
Bow-in-bowcase and club; prow upward below.
Zapiti & Michaelidou 26; Troxell, Alexanders 29; Price 3099

In a bit of odd history, the city of Soloi was named after the Greek statesman Solon, who visited the island and planned the city. This attribution isn’t accepted by all scholars, however.

Despite its small size, Soloi had a large impact on the adventures of Alexander the Great, since several of its citizens accompanied him and rose in the ranks. Two of Alexander’s generals, Stasanor and Stasander, came from Soloi. Nikokles, son of the king Pasikrates, also joined them. Presumably the city was among the Cypriot cities who assisted Alexander in the Siege of Tyre.

Today, the site is well known for its Roman era floor mosaic of a swan.

709 BCE

Cyprus, including Salamis, Amathos, Paphos, Soloi, Lapethos, Kourion, and Kition, liberates itself from the domination of Tyre.

569 BCE

Cyprus, including Kourion, Amathos, Paphos, Lapethos, Salamis, Soloi, and Kition, comes under Egyptian administration.

545 BCE

All of Cyprus, including Kourion, Amathos, Paphos, Lapethos, Salamis, Soloi, and Kition,comes under Persian control.

343 BCE

The major cities in Cyprus – Salamis under Pnytagoras, Kourion, Paphos, and Soloi – rebel against Artaxerxes III Okhos. He sends Idreios along with the Athenian Phokion to quell the rebellion.

333 BCE

Amathos under Androkles, Salamis, and Soloi in Cyprus submit to Alexander the Great after his victory over the Persian Empire at the Battle of Issos. Chios also comes under Macedon.

332 BCE

Nikokreon of Salamis and Pasikrates of Soloi pay homage to Alexander III in Phoenicia and take part in games.

321 BCE

Androkles of Amathos, Nikokreon of Salamis, Pasikrates of Soloi, and Nikokles of Paphos ally themselves with Ptolemy against Perdikkas.

312 BCE

Menelaus, brother to Ptolemy I, conquers the city states of Cyprus – Salamis, Kition, Kourion, Amathos, Lapethos, Paphos, and Soloi. He kills Pumiathon, king of Kition and arrests Praxippos of Lapethos, and destroys Marion with Stasioikos, then transports its citizens to Paphos.

307 BCE

Eunostos of Soloi marries Eirene, daughter of Ptolemy I Soter and Thais.

306 BCE

Demetrios Poliorketes captures Cyprus from Ptolemy I Soter and Menelaus – including Salamis, Kourion, Soloi, Paphos, and Amathos.

294 BCE

Amathos, Soloi, and Salamis become part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt under Ptolemy I Soter. They are incorporated into the Ptolemaic administrative system, as Cyprus becomes a strategic naval and commercial hub for the Ptolemies.

58 BCE

Cyprus, including Amathos, Soloi, Salamis, Kition, Paphos, Lapethos, and Kourion, is annexed by Rome after Publius Clodius Pulcher, a Roman tribune, convinces the Roman Senate to declare Cyprus a Roman province.

47 BCE

Cyprus, including Kourion, Amathos, Paphos, Lapethos, Salamis, Soloi, and Kition, goes to Marc Antony and Kleopatra VII.

31 BCE

All of Cyprus, including Kourion, Amathos, Paphos, Lapethos, Salamis, Soloi, and Kition, returns to Roman rule.

22 BCE

Cyprus, including Kourion, Amathos, Paphos, Lapethos, Salamis, Soloi, and Kition, is separated from Cilicia into its own province.