IT'S A SWORD, IT'S A SCABBARD, IT’S TISNA COINS WITH DEPICTION OF PERSIAN AKINAKES

Abstract

In this study, a series of Tisna's coins dated to the 4th century BC are discussed. It is known that Tisna, a less known city of Aiolis which is one of the important Iron Age cultural regions of Western Anatolia, gained polis status in the 4th century BC. The archaeological surveys we have been continuing in the site proved that Tisna was inhabited since the end of the 3rd millennium BC. An item depicted in the coins, which are among the most important finds of the city, constitutes the main subject of this study. This item was often described as a sword or a scabbard in previous publications. However, when the object is examined iconographically, it is surprising that it is actually a Scythian-Persian sword, akinakes. As a result of our examinations and comparisons it has been suggested that coins with depiction of akinakes may be related to both Persian identity in the region and the cult of Ares.

Keywords

• tisna
• aiolis
• coin
• persian
• akinakes.