Silver Stater of Phaistos

Silver stater of Phaistos. A special copy of a coin where on one side it depicts the myth of Talos as the protector of all of Crete and on the back a bust of a bull. The bronze giant Talos, which as you might think was the work of Hephaestus and protected the entire island. The myth says that Talos circled the island three times a day and threw stones at enemy ships approaching the island. This depiction also symbolizes the development of metalworking. It dates back to around 300-280 BC. An ideal gift for lovers of the ancient Greek world, but also for coin collectors. Solid brass silver-plated in a 999° silver solution. Each coin is offered in an acrylic case for protection and better presentation and with gift packaging.

Weight: 100 g
Dimensions (LxHxW): 5 cm x 6 cm x 5 cm
Details: with acrylic case
Gross Weight: 150 g
Includes: Gift Wrapping - Description Greek & English
Region: Crete
Material: Brass Silver Plated
Date: 300-280 B.C.

Talos was a mythical bronze giant, the first robot in history, who protected Minoan Crete from any would-be invaders. Talos is one of the most beloved mythical figures of the ancient world and one of the most important Greek myths.

Talos was a mythical guardian of Crete. He was gigantic, anthropomorphic and with a body made of bronze. There are different versions regarding his origin. The best known, from Apollodorus, says that he was created by the god Hephaestus and given to King Minos to guard Crete. Plato considers him to be a real person, the brother of Rhodamanthus. Apollonius of Rhodes states that he was a gift from Zeus to Europa, who then gave him to her son Minos.

Talos, according to Plato, was charged with the duty of overseeing the implementation of the laws in Crete, carrying them with him written on bronze tablets. Most sources state that he was a vigilant guardian of Crete who circled the coast of the island three times a day. According to others, he was winged and performed this duty by flying. He kept unknown ships approaching Crete at a distance by throwing huge stones at them. If the strangers had already disembarked, he burned them with his breath or heated his bronze body in a fire, hugged them tightly to him and thus burned them.

Talos' end came when he met the Argonauts returning from Colchis. Wanting to tie the Argonauts to the island, they encountered the giant who kept them at a distance. Then Medea, who was traveling with them, bewitched Talos with her words, promising him immortality, and thus Jason was able to remove the nail in his heel that closed the one and only vein that ran through his body and contained ichor, killing him. Another version states that he was killed by Philoctetes' father Poias, hitting him with an arrow in the same weak spot.

Talos appears on several coins from Phaistos.