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Stater - Mazaeus Tarsus
| Issuer | Cilicia, Satrapy of |
|---|---|
| Year | 361 BC - 334 BC |
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| Currency | Drachm (550-330 BCE) |
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| Reverse description | A powerful lion attacks a bull, both animals moving to the left in a dynamic predator-prey composition long associated with Persian royal and satrapal iconography. The Aramaic legend `MZDI` (Mazaios), identifying the satrap Mazaeus, appears above the scene in the upper field. A ram's head is depicted in the lower field beneath the animals, serving as an additional symbol or mintmark. The bold, deeply struck relief and vigorous rendering of the animals reflect the high quality of the Tarsus mint's output during the late Achaemenid period. |
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| Reverse lettering | 𐡌𐡆𐡃𐡉 (Translation: Mazaeus) |
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| Additional information |
Mazaeus governed Cilicia under Artaxerxes III and later Darius III, making him one of the longest-serving and most powerful satraps of the Achaemenid west. When Alexander swept through in 333 BC, Mazaeus did not resist at Tarsus — the city was surrendered, reportedly to prevent its treasury from being destroyed. He later commanded the Persian right wing at Gaugamela in 331 BC, then surrendered Babylon to Alexander and was reappointed its governor, a remarkable accommodation on both sides.
The Tarsus mint under Mazaeus was among the most prolific silver producers in the late Achaemenid satrapal system, supplying pay for Persian mercenary forces operating in the region during a period of near-constant western military pressure.