Since the 1500s various arguments have been put forth regarding the identity of the Man-Faced Bull (MFB) that appears on Greek coinage. My thesis examines various depictions of the MFB prior to its appearance on coinage of Gela in Sicily. I propose that the motif is not purely Greek but is in fact an example of cultural entanglements or even hybridity. Back in March 2022, I visited the American Numismatics Society (ANS) located in New York City. Peter Van Alfen - chief curator of the ANS - brought out the ANS collection of Man-Faced Bull types issued in Gela. I was allowed to examine these ancient artifacts, which led to my suggestion that the MFB was repurposed in Gela to the advantage of a new political, economic, and demographic society.
April 01, 2023