Pontos. Amisos. Time of Mithradates VI Eupator circa 120-63 BC.
Bronze Æ

23 mm, 9,02 g

Head of Dionysos right, wearing wreath of ivy and fruit / ΑΜΙΣΟΥ, panther skin and thyrsos on cista mystica; to left, monogram

Good Very Fine

HGC 7, 243; SNG BM Black Sea 1207.

The "cista mystica" is a sacred, often basket-like, container used in the ancient Mysteries of Dionysus and Orpheus in Greece. The term "cista" comes from the Greek word for "basket" or "box." The cista mystica played a symbolic and ritualistic role in these mystery religions. In the context of the Mysteries of Dionysus, participants would carry the cista mystica as part of their rituals, symbolizing a connection with the god Dionysus and the mysteries surrounding his worship. The contents of the cista mystica were likely sacred objects or symbols associated with the deity, but the exact details remain somewhat mysterious, as the inner workings of these mystery religions were closely guarded secrets. In the Mysteries of Orpheus, another religious tradition with secretive rites, the cista mystica was also employed. The followers of Orpheus believed in the transformative power of these mysteries, emphasizing spiritual purification and the attainment of higher knowledge. While the specifics of the cista mystica's use and its contents in these mystery religions remain elusive due to the secretive nature of the rituals, it is clear that the basket or container held profound symbolic significance in connection with the mysteries and the worship of Dionysus or Orpheus.