bgr_251498 - CILICIA - ELAIUSSA Unité

CILICIA - ELAIUSSA

(1st century BC)

Elaeusa or Elaiussa was in antiquity a small island, not far from the Cilician coast since it is now joined to the mainland, not very far from Corycus (HN. p.734). The city changed its name to become Sebaste, today Ayash. Between 18/7 BC. AD and 5/6 AD., Elaiussa was the monetary workshop of the king of Cappadocia Archelaus Philopatris Ktistes (36 BC-17 AD) where he minted drachmas and bronzes . Some coins retained the old name of the city while others saw the name of Elaiussa, substituted for that of Sebaste. Sebaste was still used as a workshop by Antiochus IV of Commagene and Iotape (38-74).