Q. Crepereius M.f. Rocus (hippocamp coll)

[b]Q.Crepereius M.f. Rocus, Roman Republic (hippocamp coll.; 69 BC.) AR Denarius Serratus[/b] [u]Obv[/u]: Draped bust of Salacia (Amphitrite), facing right; dolphin behind; D before; dotted circular border. [u]Rev[/u]: Neptune wielding trident in sea-chariot drawn by hippocamp biga, facing right; legend Q. CREPEREI ROCVS below; dotted circular border. [u]Attribution[/u]: Crawford 399/1a; Sydenham 796; Crepereia 1 [u]Provenance[/u]: ex. Karl Sifferman Coll.; ex. eCNG 171 (#199), 8.22.07 [u]Weight[/u]: 3.49 gm [u]Maximal Diameter[/u]: 17 mm [u]Axis[/u]: 12 [u]Notes[/u]: The strong nautical types of Creperius hint at a connection with overseas trade, or perhaps with Bruttium, the other location of prominent representations of Amphitrite (aka. Salacia by Romans). The most ancient passages in which Amphitrite (Salacia) occurs as a real goddess is that of Hesiod and the Homeric hymn on the Delian Apollo, where she is represented as having been present at the birth of Apollo. When Poseidon sued for her hand, she fled to Atlas, but her lover sent spies after her, and among them one Delphinus, who brought about the marriage between her and Poseidon, and the grateful god rewarded his service by placing him among the stars. When afterwards Poseidon shewed some attachment to Scylla, Amphitrite's jealousy was excited to such a degree, that she threw some magic herbs into the well in which Scylla used to bathe, and thereby changed her rival into a monster with six heads and twelve feet. Amphitrite (Salacia) became by Poseidon the mother of Triton, Rhode, or Rhodes, and Benthesicyme. In the arts of vase-painting and mosaic, Amphitrite (Salacia) was distinguishable from the other Nereids only by her queenly attributes. In works of art, both ancient ones and post-Renaissance paintings, She is often represented either enthroned beside Poseidon or driving with him in a chariot drawn by hippocamps or other fabulous creatures of the deep, and attended by Tritons and Nereids. She is dressed in queenly robes and has nets in her hair. The pincers of a crab are sometimes shown attached to her temples. The temple of Poseidon on the Corinthian isthmus contained a statue of Amphitrite; her figure appeared among the relief ornaments of the temple of Apollo at Amyclae; and on the throne of the Olympian Zeus. A colossal statue of her exists in the Villa Albaiii, and she frequently appears on the coinage of Syracuse. "...Salacia, the folds of her garment sagging with fish" (Apuleius, The Golden Ass 4.31). RR263