Roman Provincial, Phoenicia, Elagabalus, AE26

Roman Provincial, Phoenicia, Berytus (Beirut)

Elagabalus (218-222), AE26, Berytus mint

Obverse: laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right

IMP CAES MAVR ANTONINVS AVG

Reverse: arched gateway within which Marsyas standing right, holding wine-sack over shoulder, above, figure riding lion or panther right, BER in exerque

COL IVL AVG FEL

Weight 12.75 g

Berytus (today Beirut) was one of the main Phoenician port cities. It is mentioned as early as the 15th century BC and has been preserved in the texts of the cuneiform script. From 15 BC Berytus was a Roman colony. During Roman times, the city was made famous by the law school, one of the first three in the world, which made the city a famous cultural center until the 6th century AD.