Hypaepa in Lydia, 218-222 AD., Elagabalus, magistrate Aurelios Dionysios, Æ 22, BMC 52-53.

Hypaepa in Lydia, Elagabalus, issued by magistrate Aurelios Dionysios, strategos, 218-222 AD.,
Æ 22 (21-22 mm / 5,01 g),
Obv.: AYT K M AVP - ANTΩNЄINOC CЄB , laureate and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus right, seen from back..
Rev.: ЄΠI AYP ΔIONYCIOY CT - PA ΥΠΑΙΠΗΝΩN , statue of Artemis Anaïtis facing.
Imhoof KM 3 ; BMC 52-53 ; SNG Turkey 2, 8 ; Lindgren III 478A corr. (Caracalla) .
thanks to Dane (“Helvetica“) for the reference


Artemis Anaïtis was a fusion of the Persian goddess Anahita and the Greek Artemis. Tacitus (Annals 62) refers to the syncretic deity simply as the “Persian Diana”, who had a temple in Lydia “dedicated in the reign in of Cyrus” (presumably Cyrus the Great).