323, Lot: 234. Estimate $100. Sold for $400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHRYGIA, Apameia. Pseudo-autonomous issue. temp. Severans, AD 193-235. Æ (16mm, 2.32 g, 5h). Turreted and draped bust of Tyche right / Hekate triformis, holding torch in each hand. BMC 110-13. VF, green patina. Fine style.

Although perhaps originally conceived as cthonic goddess similar to Artemis, in Greek mythology Hekate was transformed into a nefarious deity associated with witches, ghosts, and curses. The origin of her cult can perhaps be traced to Caria, where her most prominent cult site of Lagina was located and where names stemming from Hekate (itself apparently derived from Hekatos, or “far-shooting”, an epithet of Apollo) are well–attested. From at least the Classical period she was shown in triplicate form as a goddess of the crossroads, comparable to the Roman Trivia, whose image was set up at boundaries to keep out evil spirits.