Abstract
The article introduces a reverse design element of Panticapaeum coins of the fi rst half of the 5th century BC that doesn’t have any parallels currently known, namely a form of swastika fi gure that can be described as “fl ag swastika”. This version of the swastika has been being neglected by Russian scholars before, most likely because it was usually explained with the reasons of technological character in producing the reverse stamp. Still, the fl ag swastika seems to be a meaningful solar symbol in the coinage of Panticapaeum. Another symbol the paper deals with is so-called croix swasticale. The interpretation of this image is illustrated with examples of Thraco-Macedonian coinage and other regions. Finally, in early 5th century BC we note the existence of an interesting combinations of symbols (a solar wheel – croix swasticale) in different parts of Greek world, as far as in Olbia in the East and Sicily in the West.
Keywords
Greek coins, Panticapaeum, solar symbolism, swastika, croix swastikale
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