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Æ37 - Gordian III ΠΑΡ ΒΑΚΧΙΟΥ ΠΑΝ ΑΠΑΜΕΩΝ, ΝΩΕ (on ark)
| Issuer | Apamea (Phrygia) (Conventus of Apamea) |
|---|---|
| Year | 238-244 |
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| Composition | Bronze |
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| Obverse lettering | ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΑΝ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ (Translation: Emperor Caesar Marcus Antonius Gordianus) |
| Reverse description | A chest-like ark, inscribed ΝΩΕ, floats leftward upon water, containing the busts of a male and female figure representing Noah and his wife. A raven perches atop the ark, while a dove alights upon it holding an olive branch in its beak. To the left of the ark, two standing figures — a male and a female — are depicted on dry ground, representing the disembarkation of Noah and his companion. This exceptionally rare reverse type uniquely conflates the Biblical narrative of Noah's Ark with the local mythology of Apamea, which claimed to be the landing site of the ark. |
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Apamea in Phrygia claimed a direct connection to the biblical Flood narrative, identifying itself as the landing site of Noah's ark — a tradition so entrenched that the city placed it on coinage repeatedly across several reigns. The name ΝΩΕ inscribed on the ark is among the earliest appearances of Noah's name on any struck metal object in the ancient world.
The city's Greek name, Kibotos, meant "chest" or "box" — almost certainly a reference to the ark tradition rather than coincidence.