URSULA KAMPMANN'S GREEK NUMISMATIC DIARY: EDESSA

We immediately departed towards north because there were so many attractions to visit, like Macedon Edessa, ancient capital city of the Argeads.

According to Herodotus, the name of this Greek city stemmed from the Phrygian word for water (= vedy). It is said that in antiquity Edessa was referred to as Garden of Midas.

Upon entering the excavation site of ancient Edessa, a young woman followed us. First we thought that we had taken the wrong entrance and had to pay fee, but no, entrance was free but we ought to take the flyer to appreciate the excavation properly.

And she reminded us to watch out for snakes. To enforce her point, the lady wore a stick like the one many Greeks lug around on archaeological excavations. The stick serves the purpose to keep the aggressive reptiles at an arm's length.

Edessa (Macedonia). Gordian III. Bronze. Av. Tranquillina. Rev. Roma l. sitting, city goddess of Edessa behind her, crowning her. From auction Numismatik Lanz 150 (2010), 375.

To read the complete article, see: Numismatic diary of a journey throughout Greece, part 4 (www.coinsweekly.com/en/News/4?&id=683)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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