- [Greek: machos] which is taken to mean silphium-weigher ([Greek: sliphio-] being
either a mis-spelling of the artist, or the local form of the word, whilst the latter part is connected with the Egyptian mach = to weigh). Close to the silphium packets is the word [Greek: MAEN], which has not been explained, but which may be simply a form of the word mina (manah, meneh) and denotes that each packet weighed that amount.
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Fig. 42. Coin of Metapontum.
The ear of corn (wheat) on the coins of Metapontum[1], an old Achaean colony in Magna Graecia, is explained by modern writers as a symbol of Demeter: but the story told by Strabo of how the early settlers dedicated a golden ear at Delphi because they had amassed such great wealth from agriculture, indicates a far simpler solution, that the chief product and chief article of barter of Metapontum was naturally placed on her coins. As the tunny adorns the coins of Cyzicus, so we find the cuttle-fish on the coins of Croton and Eretria. As this creature was devoured with great gusto by the ancients, as it is at the present day at Naples and in Palestine, there is. It has been inferred that this is an epithet of Demeter, but this is most unlikely, for in that case we should expect [Greek: Sôteira], as on the coins of Hipponium, Syracuse, Agrigentum, Corcyra, Cyzicus, and Apamea, not [Greek: Sôtêria], as the adjective. Thus we always find [Greek: Zeus Sôtêr], not [Greek: Sôtêrios]: cf. [Greek: Sôteira Eunomia], Pind. Ol. IX. 16, [Greek: Sôteira Tycha], Ol. XII. 2, [Greek: Sôteira Themis], Ol. VIII. 21. [Greek: Sôtêria] is rather Safety (Lat. Salus), who, as my friend Mr J. G. Frazer points out to me, was worshipped at Patrae and Aegeum, two of the chief towns of Achaea (Pausan. VII. 21. 7; VII. 24. 3). We also find such names of divinities as [Greek: Hygieia], [Greek: Homonoia] and [Greek: Nika] on the coins of Metapontum. As Metapontum was an Achaean colony, it is likely that Salus was worshipped there also. Besides it was to Apollo, and not to Demeter, that they dedicated their golden ear as a harvest thank-offering. [Greek: Theros] is the ear cut from the stalk after the ancient way of reaping, cf. [Greek: therê stachyôn], Plut.]
- ↑ The only evidence to show that Demeter was worshipped at Metapontum is that a female head on certain of her coins is accompanied by the legend [Greek: Sôtêria
