Ephesos (AD 222-235) AE 22 - Severus Alexander

Severus Alexander, 222-235 AD. AE22 (5.28g). Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / The philosopher Heraclitus standing left, raising right hand and holding torch in left. Good Fine, brown and tan patina, light roughness. Wagner Coll.

Heraclitus “the Obscure” is one of the earliest Greek philosophers whose writings have come down to us reasonably complete. Born in Ephesos in the 6th century BC, he retired to the countryside after the aristocratic party he supported was ejected from power, but nonetheless became a revered figure in the city’s history. Heraclitus held that fire was the basic building block of existence, hence he is depicted holding a torch. ”This world-order, the same of all, no god nor man did create, but it ever was and is and will be: everliving fire, kindling in measures and being quenched in measures."