A coin minted in 56-57 C.E. bears the portrait of Salome, daughter of Herodias, the infamous wife of Herod Antipas. Only two copies of this coin, both quite worn, have been published to date. Recently, however, a third coin has come to light — with a near perfect image of Salome! It is published here for the first time.
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Back of a coin depicting Salome
(ca. 56-57 C.E.) |
Salome’s image has been obscured and marred due to the personas created for her by writers of the past 150 years. Salome is famous for the part she played in the execution of John the Baptist. Since 1863, she has been depicted in books and films as morally depraved. Diligent research reveals, however, that the real Salome is much different than popular portrayals.
The paradoxes begin with the fact that her name does not appear in the Gospels. We know her name from Josephus’ account of the story (Antiq. 18:136-137) and from the coin that bears her portrait — incidentally, hers is the only portrait of a person mentioned in the Gospels. Another paradox is the distortion of her story in modern literature and art.[1]
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