Roman Provincial, Phoenicia, Berytus (Beirut)
Elagabalus (218-222), AE26, Berytus mint
Obverse: laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
IMP CAES MAVR ANTONINVS AVG
Reverse: arched gateway within which Marsyas standing right, holding wine-sack over shoulder, above, figure riding lion or panther right, BER in exerque
COL IVL AVG FEL
Weight 12.75 g
Berytus (today Beirut) was one of the main Phoenician port cities. It is mentioned as early as the 15th century BC and has been preserved in the texts of the cuneiform script. From 15 BC Berytus was a Roman colony. During Roman times, the city was made famous by the law school, one of the first three in the world, which made the city a famous cultural center until the 6th century AD.
