Images of Elamite Coins and Their Link with Seafare

The geographic location of the Elamite terrain which lies in parts of today's Khuzestan caused a middle-man-role for this region situated in between water-ways leading to the head of the Persian Gulf and Iranian plateau and Mesopotamia. In addition to the fact that this territory, possessing several rivers, was very fertile, the reality that of one of the most important Iranian trade-routes was crossing Elymais, lead to the development of an economical and trading-center there during the reign of the Arsacids. Archaeological founds like inscriptions, reliefs and, which is most important, hoards of coins left from local Elamite rulers distinctively show the kingdom's glory in the examined period. The existence of two mints at Seleucia-Hediphon and Susa (Seleucia-Eulaeus) might be another evidence for economical splendor. The issued coins of the two evoked mints are influenced by models of the Seleucid Era and bear symbols like moon, stars, horse-head and anchor-like images, the latter not having been entirely studied so far. In recent studies, some link between portraits on the fronts of Elamite coins with ocean, marine and Greek gods related to water and rivers have been discussed as hypotheses. Poseidon and Artemis are of particular importance in this context. The gods Anahita and Nanaya are, as Iranian and Mesopotamian equivalents of Artemis, noteworthy, since based on written records, there existed temples related to them in the region of Mesopotamia.