DYNASTS OF LYCIA
Mithrapata (390-370 BC)
AR Sixth Stater (Diobol). 1.37g, 12.9mm
MINTED: LYCIA, Uncertain mint, circa 390-370 BC
REF: SNG Cop 27; Müseler VII 83; Traité II 457
OBVERSE: Lion scalp facing.
REVERSE: Triskeles; astragalos in one section, legend around; all within incuse square.
 
Notes:
The Triskeles, from the Greek word meaning "three-legged", is a symbol composed of three interlocked spirals, often depicted in a rotational pattern. It has origins in various ancient cultures, including Celtic and Greek, and has been interpreted in various ways, including as a representation of the three realms of existence (earth, sea, and sky), the three aspects of the goddess (maiden, mother, and crone), and the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth. The Triskeles is still used as a symbol in modern times, representing various concepts such as personal growth and the interconnectedness of the past, present, and future.
 
Historical Notes:
Lycia was a mountainous region in southwestern Anatolia (present day Turkey).  During the reign of Cyrus the Great (559-530 BC), Lycia came under the control of the Persian Empire.  The Lycians were given much autonomy by the Persians, and fought on their side during the Greco-Persian Wars (499-449 BC).  

Mithrapata was a dynast, or local ruler, who ruled part of Lycia around 390-370 BC as a subject of Artaxerxes II of Persia (404-358 BC).