Greece Very rare AE12 of Usurper Syllaios (c.9-6 BC), Nabataean Kingdom

Laureate head of Syllaios right; [Nabatean letter Sin left] / Veiled and draped bust of his Queen right; Nabatean letter Sin left. 12mm, 1.44 grams. Petra mint. CN 74; Meshorer, Nabataea 119–20 (Aretas IV); cf.CNG Auction 520 lot 187.

Rare type for this usurper.

Syllaios (Syllaeus , according to Strabo) is the all-powerful minister of the Nabataean king Obodas III who reigned from 30 to 9 BC. Obodas III is described by Strabo as losing interest in government and abandoning it to his minister Syllaios, who is almost always the only one mentioned when relating the events in which the Nabathea plays a role. On the death of Obodas, Syllaios was proclaimed King of Nabatea by Augustus himself, but was dismissed in favour of Aretas. His coins might date to the reign of Obodas, with the initial of Syllaios added to the coinage.

 

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