THE GRAZING HORSES OF THESSALY

Obverse: Head of the nymph Larissa three quarter facing, hair floating loosely.
Reverse: Horse feeding left.

The reference used for this coin is the British Museum Catalogs on Greek Coins.

Known for breeding champion horses and remarkable horsemen, the city of Larissa flourished under the protection of the Macedonian Kingdom of Phillip II and Alexander the Great. The city also provided fine horses to the armies of the Greek City States. At that time Greek power, influence and expansion were at a peak. Two of its more famous citizens were the renowned poet Pindar and Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine.

Larissa was the water nymph for the city which bears her name. While not considered as deities, nymphs held a position of admiration in Greek mythology. One popular belief is that they presided over springs, lakes, and rivers. They enjoyed long lives and were generally regarded as symbols of good luck. Of course, Larissa is located on the shores of the river Peneios, which was vital to the city’s existence.

The classic design of this beautiful coin appears to have originated some sixty years earlier in the works of the famous engraver of Syracuse, Cimon. He created a coin that portrayed the nymph Arenthusa in a style very similar to those of Larissa. These rare coins circulated throughout Ancient Greece and were probably the source of inspiration for the Larissa coins as well as the classic "Head of Helios" issues minted in the city of Rhoades.