In antiquity, Ephesus was famed for its beauty, its luxurious way of life, and as a center of religious activity. The enormous temple of Artemis was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and Ephesus was an early stronghold of Christianity. This exquisite coin celebrates the mystery cult of Dionysus, god of wine. On one side a serpent slithers out of a cista mystica, a container for cult objects, surrounded by a Dionysiac wreath: on the other, two serpents entwine above a hunting bow case. A masterpiece of Hellenistic craftsmanship, this coin evokes the splendor and mystery of the Classical age.