The Helmet of Diodotus Tryphon: A Numismatic and Archaeological Study
Smirnov Svyatoslav V., Dedyulkin Anton V.
The paper presents an archaeological and numismatic analysis of the image of the ceremonial royal helmet on the coins of Diodotus Tryphon, the Seleucid usurper of the mid‑second century BC. The archaeological analogies to the individual elements of the ‘Tryphon’s helmet’ design allow us to suggest the existence of a real royal helmet, which served as a prototype for this coinage. In terms of iconography, the ‘Tryphon’s helmet’ is a composite image where both Macedonian and Dionysian motifs can be found. Taking into account the political context, it is worth recognizing that the royal Tryphon’s helmet was not only an example of the Hellenistic ceremonial equipment, but also an important tool for legitimizing the usurper’s power, which relyed on the loyalty of the military elites of Apamea on the Orontes.
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