Zephyrium, Cilicia
100-0 BCE
Ae 20mm, 6.5gms
Obv: Turreted head of Tyche right
Rev: ZEFYRIWTWN; Tyche, turreted, seated left, holding scepter; monograms in left field
SNG Levante 901
Zephyrion is modern day Mersin, Turkey and has been inhabited for roughly 10,000 years. During that time, it has been conquered and managed by pretty much every civilization. The city grew wealthy from the trade of white lead.
It is mentioned numerous times by ancient authors, though usually as “so and so reached Zephyrion” or “so and so conquered x, y, and zephyrion” (need that ‘z’).
Posidippos (Athenaios VII.318d) wrote about the worship of Artemis there:
On both sea and land amake offerings to this temple of Philadelphos Kypris Arsinoe,
whom the fleet-commander Kallikrate was first to establish
as queen upo the Zephyrion coast.
She will grant easy sailing, and even in mid-storm
will calm the broad see for those who beseech her.
Earliest occupation of Zephyrion.
Fortifications are constructed at Zephyrion.