Chi rho the symbol has its origin in platos xpagan. The ptolemaic kingdom reached the height of its power during his. Leo i 457ad constantinople rare ae2 ancient roman coin chi. Ptolemy iii euergetes was the third ruler of the ptolemaic dynasty in egypt. The cult of dionysos from the land of the satrae herod, vii iii had a following of satyrs, centaurs and nymphs, all of w h o m are depicted on various coinages of the region. Christos in such a way that the vertical stroke of the rho intersects the center of the chi. Ilya ancientcoins zlobin added ptolemy iii euergetes 246bc alexandria egypt zeus chi rho greek to ptolemy iii euergetes 246bc alexandria egypt zeus chi rho greek board news. Octadrachm coin portraying king ptolemy iii euergetes the art. The oldest documentation of the water clock is the tomb inscription of the 16th century bc egyptian court official amenemhet, which identifies him as its inventor. In fact, it is the greek alphabet chi that resembles x and rho that looks like p. One of my favorites, constantine i chirho on helmet. The chi rho can be seen on the egyptian coinage of ptolemy iii, euergetes r. Browse the ptolemy iii page with no thumbnail images note.
His mother and father were arsinoe ii and ptolemy ii philadelphus. Aleph taw is the symbol of god used by constantine i, not. These writings were then copied by official scribes, the originals were put into the library, and the copies were. The chi rho symbol was also used by pagan greek scribes to mark, in the margin, a particularly valuable or relevant passage. It is formed by superimposing the first two letters chi and rho of the greek word.
It is formed by superimposing the first two capital letters chi and rho of the greek word. The sign of the cross has been a symbol of great antiquity. Browsing ancient coinage of egypt, ptolemy iii wildwinds. Ptolemy iii was the eldest son of ptolemy ii philadelphus and his first wife arsinoe i. Greek scribes used the symbol in the margin to mark passages they considered especially significant or relevant, with the letters chi and rho denoting chreston that means good. The cross, regardless of its form, is an emblem of great antiquity, and it is sometimes called the sign of life. Also, if it was chosen in just some random fashion like you are inferring then what meaning does it have now. Ptolemy iii euergetes benefactor, the third ruler of egypts ptolemaic dynasty, was the son of ptolemy ii philadelphus by one of his early wives named arsinoe.
There is no doubt that the trinity was adopted by catholic. This denomination series consists of 8 coins all with the wellknown chi rho leg monogram and corresponding coins with no monogram rare, not all sizes known. The chirho symbol was used by the roman emperor constantine i as vexillum, which is known as labarum. The chirhos use predates christianity, with chirho found on old greek coins from the time of ptolemy iii 246220 bce, it was also used by greek scholars. The oldest water clock of which there is physical evidence dates to c. Evidence of the chi rho on coins appears for the first time. So all up, i dont actually have an answer for you, but ive tried to demonstrate the. However, his father apparently abandoned this first arsinoe to marry his full sister, who was also. When ptolemy iii was young, his mother was disgraced and he was removed from the succession. As with the coinage from provincial mints by ptolemy ii, this series lacks leg monograms. The egyptians had accepted the ptolemies, a greek macedonian royal family, as the successors to the pharaohs. This symbol was used centuries before it came into use as a christian symbol, again on coins, most notably by ptolemy iii. Some coins of ptolemy iii euergetes were marked with a chi rho. Evidence of the chirho on coins appears for the first time in the third century bce on a greek bronze of ptolemy iii 246222 bce.
Jovian 363ad ae1 large authentic ancient roman coin chi. Diameter 38 mm maximum height 48 mm eyelet 3,5 mm thickness 3 mm weight is about 30 gramm the chi rho is one of the earliest forms of christogram, and is used by christians. The combination of chi and rho in greek chreston means good. Most references agree that the attribution of all of these coins are to the mid or later part of the reign of ptolemy iii. Zeus head to right eagle standing left, wings closed. The ptolemaic kingdom is very important for the history of egypts coinage because it was. Egypt was most prosperous under ptolemy iii s reign.
These might be contemporaneous with either the scarce nomonogram cornucopia types of alexandria or the chi rho series or both. Early symbols similar to the chi rho were the staurogram and the ix monogram. The earliest usage of the chirho symbol is known from bronze coins issued by ptolemy iii in 246222 bce. Although formed of greek characters, the device or its separate parts is frequently found serving as an abbreviation in latin text, with endings added appropriate to a latin noun, thus xpo, signifying christo, to christ, the dative form of christus. Due to a falling out at the seleucid court, his eldest sister berenice phernophorus was murdered along with her infant son. The chi rho is one of the earliest forms of christogram, and is used by some christians. The earliest usage of the chi rho symbol is known from bronze coins issued by ptolemy iii in 246222 bce.
I read somewhere that the chi rho was on the soldiers shields before constantine. Although formed of greek characters, the device or its. He was restored as heir to the throne in the late 250s bc and succeeded his father as king without issue in 246 bc. Ptolemy earned his nickname euergetes by his generosity bestowed on the egyptian people. Ptolemy iii euergetes was the third king of the ptolemaic dynasty in egypt from 246 to 222 bc. Ptolemy iii euergetes 246bc alexandria egypt zeus chirho. The chi rho monogram is actually a much older grecoroman symbol, first being used during ptolemaic reigns in egypt by ptolemy iii euergetes in the late 230s bce, the coins being called chi rho series of euergetes by numismatic scholars.
Ancient greek, ptolemaic period 221205 bce, issued by king ptolemy iv, reign of ptolemy iii euergetes 247222 bce. Ptolemaic bronze denomination series ptolemaic bronze coinage. Diademed head of zeusammon right y, eagle standing left on thunderbolt. To participate in the forum you must log in or register. Benefactor macedonian king of egypt, son of ptolemy ii. Ptolemy iii euergetes benefactor, king of egypt 246221 bc. Ptolemy iii euergetes macedonian king of egypt britannica. Eudoxia arcadius wife 401ad authentic ancient roman coin.
Heres a similar coin with chi rho control mark from my collection. Two versions of constantines vision the bart ehrman blog. The ptolemaic kingdom reached the height of its power during his reign. Pronounced as keeroe, the monogram looks to have been formed with the english alphabets x and p. The chi rho cornucopia coinage of alexandria is a dominant and prodigious coinage as are most of these. Centurion of the roman army epigraphic evidence indicates that a chi above rho represented an abbreviation for the greek word. To access the full database of over 5 million records, please consult coinarchives pro. Bronze pendant chi rho jesus prayer chi rho cross alpha. The liar eusebius convinced early christians that the letters chi and rho xp were the first to letter of christ in greek but, the term christ was an epithetnickname. Almost nothing is known of ptolemy s youth before 245, when. The chi rho symbol as chrest and the archeology of. Svoronos attributes these to ptolemy ii but the style and parallelism to the ptolemy iii chirho series seem to indicate ptolemy iii is more likely.
However, the chi rho has been traced back to at least ptolemy iii euergetes, reigned 246222 bc the third king of the ptolemaic dynasty in greek egypt. Ptolemy iii euergetes, the third king of egypts ptolemaic. Svoronos 965 ptolemy iii ae36, ca 36gm with zeus ammon and the usual eagle reverse with the chi rho monogram in the eagles legs. One of my favorites, constantine i chi rho on helmet. Many of the bronze types now believed to be of ptolemy iii are listed in svoronos under ptolemy ii. Many bronze types now believed to be of ptolemy iii are listed in svoronos under ptolemy ii. Chirho early christian monogram name of christ history.
B eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt, filleted cornucopia left. The first instance of a chi rho on a coin of constantine is on a. Chi rho symbol is an ancient christian symbol, a christogram that is made by overlaying the initial two letters in capital of the greek word christos meaning christ. Or it was also the first two letters of chronos, the god of time. Ptolemaic kingdom of egypt, ptolemy iii euergetes, 246 222 b. Bust of the deified ptolemy iii right, wearing radiate diadem and aegis. Ptolemy iii euergetes benefactor was the grandson of ptolemy i. Ptolemy iii euergetes 246bc alexandria egypt zeus chi rho greek. He promoted the translation of jewish scriptures into greek as the septuagint. The temple will be built by messiah yeshua, not the antichrist. The article offers new insight into the radiate portraits of ptolemy iii and v and the. The sign has also been found on the coins of ptolemy iii 246222 bce. In prechristian times, the chi rho symbol was also to mark a particularly valuable or relevant passage in the margin of a page, abbreviating chreston good.
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