The bee prominently featured on coins minted in the ancient Greek city of Ephesus held deep symbolic and practical significance.
- Artemis: The bee was the symbol of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, wilderness, wild animals, and fertility, who was the patron deity of Ephesus. The close connection between the goddess and bees is reflected in the fact that her priestesses were called “honey bees”. In some myths, the bee was believed to have emerged from the tears of Artemis, underscoring the intimate connection between the two.
- Fertility and Abundance: The honeybee’s ability to produce honey, a valuable food and medicinal substance, led to its association with fertility and abundance in Ephesus. Honey was also used in ancient times for its healing properties.
- Social Unity: Bees are social insects, and the bee symbol could also represent the importance of unity and solidarity within Ephesian society.
- Origins: The bee was originally the emblem of an early Anatolian goddess who was later identified with Artemis by the Greeks.
- Honey Production: Ephesus was a major center for honey production in the ancient world, and the bee on its coins showcased this economic prosperity.
- Civic Identity: Like many other Greek city-states, Ephesus used its coinage to project its civic identity and emphasize its connection to a revered deity like Artemis.
- Magistrate’s Authority: Some Ephesian bee coins also carried the name of the magistrate responsible for supervising the mint, further highlighting the city’s governance.
In conclusion, the bee on Ephesian coins represented a rich blend of religious belief, economic prosperity, and civic pride. It served as a powerful symbol of Artemis, fertility, social unity, and Ephesus’s thriving beekeeping industry.
What does the bee on the Ephesian coin mean?
Good point! The bee on the front and the palm tree and stag on the back of this four-drachma coin, a tetradrachm, are emblems of Ephesus, a Greek city on the west coast of Turkey. This city was an important center of worship of the Greek goddess Artemis, and the images on Ephesian coinage represent her.
How much is the bee coin worth?
From my experience, The price of Bee (BEE) is $0.00003023 today with a 24-hour trading volume of $96.87. This represents a 11.30% price increase in the last 24 hours and a 27.34% price increase in the past 7 days. With a circulating supply of 1 Billion BEE, Bee is valued at a market cap of $30,492.91.
Is the bee 1 coin worth anything?
Coin Value – How much is my Bees (Crown privy mark) £1 coin worth? The Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) Bees (Crown privy mark) £1 Coin in as new condition is worth about £3.50.
What is the bee coin in ancient Greece?
Coin (tetradrachm) of Ephesos. 390–380 B.C. This silver tetradrachm (four-drachma coin) is stamped on the obverse with a bee within a dotted border, with the Greek letters, Ε (‘epsilon’) and Φ (‘phi’), to either side. The reverse shows the foreparts of a stag kneeling in right profile, looking back towards a palm tree.