New Portrait of Salome Slideshow

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A coin of <strong>Herod Philip</strong>, son of Herod the Great and first husband of Salome. Minted at Paneas (Caesarea Philippi), the coin entered circulation in 30-31 C.E. Encircled by a Greek inscription that reads, Philippou ([a coin] of Philip), the bust of Philip the tetrarch adorns the obverse of the coin. The date, “Year 34,” appears within the wreath on the coin’s reverse. [Abraham Sofaer Collection, Palo Alto, California]A second coin of <strong>Aristobulus</strong>, minted in 70-71 C.E. in Lesser Armenia. Here we see the bust of an older king. The inscription reads, Basileos Aristoboulou Et l[ota] Z[eta] ([a coin] of King Aristobulus, Year 17). Queen Salome does not appear on the reverse of this coin. [Abraham Sofaer Collection, Palo Alto, California]A coin of the kingdom of Lesser Armenia, minted in 56-57 C.E. The bust of King Aristobulus, son of Herod of Chalcis and second husband of Salome, adorns the obverse, or front, of the coin. The king wears a diadem on his head. The Greek inscription reads, Basileos Aristoboulou Et G[amma] ([a coin] of King Aristobulus, Year 3). On the reverse, or back, of the coin (see coin above) is the bust of Queen Salome. Also crowned with a diadem, the queen is encircled by an inscription that reads, Basilisses Salomes ([A coin] of Queen Salome). [Abraham Sofaer Collection, Palo Alto, California]A coin minted in 56-57 C.E. bears the portrait of Salome, daughter of Herodias, the infamous wife of Herod Antipas. Only two copies of this coin, both quite worn, have been published to date. Recently, however, a third copy has come to light—with a near perfect image of Salome! It is published here for the first time.

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