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• Cyrus II the Great, Khourvash/Kuruš established the Persian Empire and ruled it from 550–529. Cyrus, perhaps meaning “the sun”.
• Cambyses II, Kambujiyas / Kambiz . Son of Cyrus II, ruled 530–522.
• Smerdis, (Bardiya in Old Persian) brother of Cambyses II, ruled 522.
• Darius I the Great, Hystaspis son of Hystaspis .(Dârayavauš in Old Persian) 521–486.
• Xerxes I, (Khashyar/ Khshayarsha in Old Persian) son of Darius I and Atossa, ruled 486–465.
• Artaxerxes I Makrocheir (in Old Persian arta-xshathra “King of Rightness”) also Longimanus, (of the Long Hand) son of Xerxes, ruled 464–424.
• Xerxes II, son of Artaxerxes ruled 424.
• Sogdianus, son of Artaxerxes and Alogyne, ruled 424–423.
• Darius II Nothus /Ochos, (the bastard) son of Artaxerxes and Cosmartidene. ruled 423–404. Prior to rule: Satrap of Hyrcania.
• Artaxerxes II Arsaces, son of Darius II, ruled 404–358.
• Artaxerxes III Ochus, son of Artaxerxes II, ruled 358–338.
• Artaxerxes IV Arses, son of Artaxerxes III, ruled 338–336.
• Darius III Codomannus/ Kodomannos, son of Arsames and Sisygambis. |
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The wide-spanning Achaemenid satrapies reached out grasping northern India and in the opposite direction Libya, then arched north to the Danube via Thrace, touching the Caucasus via Armenia and far north to the southern tip of the Aral Sea via Chorasmia (Khwarezm), roughly where stand portions of present-day Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Achaemenidian power englobed all the ancient Near East. Although territorial fluctuations occurred during the two-hundred and twenty years or so of Achaemenid power solely Egypt defected but this lasted under sixty years. The core of this conquering people came from Persis where Persians had settled in the eighth or seventh century B.C.(depending on sources) during the period of Elamite power, one closely communicating and trading with Sumer, Babylonia and Assyria. Persis accordingly owed no tribute and was not considered a satrapy.
For reasons unknown it would appear Achaemenids alike their numerous Mesopotamian predecessors neglected coinage entirely. Then Cyrus suddenly conquered Lydia falling into the western birthplace of coinage. Thereupon the Sardian mint and archaic Croesean gold staters possibly remained forbidden under Cyrus and Cambyses until finally Sardis’s fortuitous mint resuscitated with the ring of gold darics struck under Darius I. This city would have offered a rich know-how of minting and skilled moneyers, more so at that time possibly than elsewhere within the empire. From hence forthcame darics and silver siglos under traditional bimetallic standards of Lydia (Sparda to Achaemenids), the second satrapy, owing yearly tribute of 500 talents.*6 Lydia’s legendary Pactolus River near Sardis flowed with alluvial gold deposits. Persia did not have the advantage of silver or gold mines and even imported copper. Darics were treated as bullion and silver siglos circulated mostly in Asia Minor and in Judea. By having one monetary unit (such as today’s Euro) trade progressed. Throughout Achaemenid lands the daric was valued equally. Both characteristics are remarkable for the times.
Possibly darics were named after Darius (dareikos, a Greek word), however Old Persian points to the word dari meaning “golden”. Plutarch tells us the coins won an appellative from the Greeks who familiarly transacted with “archers” rather than “Darics” for reasons one may see from images below.
Aramaic being the language in general use one finds it upon satrapial coin legends. Old Persian however remained the official language. |
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The kneeling figure above drawing a bow is represented in satrapial coinage between circa 350-334, possibly representing the Persian king since the figure is crowned. The bow characterized the royal insignia. (Other symbols were the robe of Elam — till a certain period — and a shield). The bow and arrow anciently represented symbols of Sumerian Gods as one discovers on a Sumerian cylinder seal. |
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Both extractions by courtesy of Pars Coins
Left: Carradice, type III silver siglos, Artaxerxes I-Darius III. c. 420-375 B.C.
Right: Carradice Type IIIb group A/B Darius I to Xerxes II 485-420 B.C.- gold daric |
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Above “archers”are “kneeling-running” within 5.60 grams of silver and 8.35 grams of gold. Both coins remained characteristically oval. The siglos presents itself in the above image with a countermark (drawn below) similar to the symbol we have seen in our triskele presentation, page1 - N° 3 and 51. The symbol appears in fields upon other satrapial coins such as those of Spithridates, satrap of Lydia and Ionia, loyal till the end, dying at the battle of Granicus 334 — an engagement against Alexander the Great. Sigloi equalled 1/20th of a daric. Such were the first coin types of the satraps’ monarch and empire. Darics originating from tribute were melted, stored and ultimately cast. |
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A double-bladed axe, the antediluvian labrys, was utilised in satrapial coin issues notably in Caria. In most renditions it is held by Zeus upon coin reverses with satraps appearing on obverses. Labraynda, a pilgrimage city of Caria, honoured a sacred labrys symbol dated by archaeologists to circa 600 B.C. Plutarch stated “labrys” was in fact a Lydian word for axe but we understand this not necessarily meant a double-bladed axe. Its origins are too ancient to pinpoint but we do know it was a traditional attribute of Thracian kings. To date the oldest labrys appear to be Minoan. It is also thought by some to have been a weapon rather than a symbol, used by Scythians and Persians. |
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One associates the refined lotus with India and Egypt however the flower was also an Achaemenid symbol as one perceives in Persepolis carvings. Darius I presides enthroned in stone holding a lotus blossom. Certain Archaeologists ascertain the “Niloofar” in Farsi (and similarly in French “nénuphar”) symbolized peace and felicity .Satrap Pharnabazos/Pharnabazus (and others such as satrap Mazaios of Cilicia) issued silver staters wherein God Baal holds the lotus-tipped sceptre — possibly representing Achaemenid authority. The former coin has inscribed Baaltars in Aramaic and similarly Pharnabazos and Cilicia on the obverse . During a period ranging from about 386 to 333 Tarsus became the principal mint for Cilicia’s satraps. Carian satrapal issues representing god Zeus Labraynda have this deity carrying the lotus-tipped sceptre rather than Baal. Hellenic divinities are not lacking on satrapal coinage exemplifying the importance of Hellenic influence in Asia minor. As a symbol this sceptre continued upon coins under the generals of Alexander the Great.
There exists a theory the lotus variety Nelumbo nucifera was sacred in the East because its chemical properties brought on euphoria. Modern science specifies and confirms these properties. It is thought to have been introduced late to Egypt through the Achaemenid invasion, 525 B.C. The Egyptians revered another lotus or water-lily, the Nymphaea caerulea. |
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