Ancient Coin Stories

Let coins tell their stories…

Arkadia, Tegea
4th-3rd Century BCE
AE 15.91mm 3.73g
Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena right
Reverse: TEΓE, owl standing left, head facing, palm branch before
BCD Peloponnesos 1727
Ex BCD Collection Purchased April 1979

Per legend, Tegea was founded by Tegeates, who was a son of Lykaon, a king of Arkadia who infamously cooked one of his sons in an attempt to trick Zeus. Needless to say, that backfired on him majorly.

During ancient times, Tegea was an extremely powerful city in Arkadia that was mentioned in Homer and which gave serious opposition to Sparta. Its king Echemos killed Hyllos, who was a son of Herakles, in combat.

For two hundred years the Spartans waged war against the Tegeans without success. In one case their king was even taken prisoner. However, when the Spartans obtained the bones of Orestes, they finally defeated Tegea in 560 BCE and became masters of Arkadia.

For the most part, Tegea remained on the side of the Spartans after that, though there were a few revolts against them. They were firmly on Sparta’s side during the Peloponnesian War, but joined Epaminondas and Thebes in their attack and defeat of Sparta.

Although the legend on my coin is mostly illegible, I really like it. The owl looks cute in my opinion and something about this coin is striking. It’s easily one of my favorite bronzes and the type is relatively rare.

560 BCE

Sparta defeats Tegea and compels them to recognize their supremacy.

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.

464 BCE

Tegea is defeated by 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.

394 BCE

The Temple of Athena Alea in Tegea burns down.

394 BCE
July

Sparta and their allies, including Sikyon and Tegea, defeat Athens and their allies at the Battle of Nemea. On Athens side are Thebes, Lokris Opuntii, and Corinth. With Sparta are Halieis, Sikyon, Epidauros, Troizen, and Hermione. Phlious remains neutral. Pellene fights on the side of Sparta against Thespiai.

371 BCE

The Spartans in Tegea are expelled and Tegea joins the Arkadian League.

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.

222 BCE

Tegea is taken by Antigonos II Doson and annexed to the Achaian League.

218 BCE

All of Tegea, except the Akropolis, is taken by the Spartan general Lykorgos.