Location of Kebren (Κεβρήνη)
Location of the ancient site of Kebren in northwestern Turkiye.
"The site of Kebren is located in the central area of the Troad, on the slopes of Çal Dağ, which translates to "mountain of shrubs", a western spur of Mount Ida (Mount Kaz). It is not far from the current Turkish village of Akpınar, within the vicinity of the town of Bayramiç. The city occupies a predominantly mountainous territory, suitable for grazing, but in ancient times it also had a large and fertile plain which certainly favored its development and the acquisition of prosperity, making Kebren one of the wealthiest poleis of the Troad. Evidence of its importance is the length of its walls, about 5 km, and the abundant ruins emerging from the ground within them." - L. Lazzarini, Note sulle monete bronzee di Kebren nella Troade, RIN 88, 1986, 30 (translation by Sulla)History of Kebren
Lazzarini relates that the archaeological site was first connect to Kebren by F. Calvert in 1865, based on the number of Kebrenian coins. The site was inhabited perhaps as early as the 2nd millennium BC, and Kebren was colonized in the 7th century BC. Silver coinage is abundant starting some time before 500 BCE, attesting to the prosperity of the city.
Economic decline with the dissolution of Athenian empire, circa 430 and 420 BCE, is accompanied by the appearance of bronze coins. Around 412 BCE the city fell into Persian hands with the rest of Troad, and was part of the satrapy of Phrygia.
In 399 BCE, Kebren was freed from Persian rule by the Spartan Dercyllidas. Under the Peace of Antalcidas in 387 BC, all Aegean Greek colonies again came under the rule of the Persian King. My Kebrenian bronze coin of interest today dates from some time after 387 BCE. The series, which Lazzarini highlights in Figure 4, comes in denominations of one, two, four, and eight units with each unit weighing about a gram.
An AE Coin
My coin is the largest of these denominations a 8.48g with a thick 19mm flan - it is also unusual to have a stalk of wheat on the obverse below the ram's head. I found no other examples of this coin in ACSearchand this variant is not found in Asia Minor Coins of Kebren.
Troas, Kebren, 350-310 BC, Bronze (19.5mm, 8.42g, 6h)
Obv: Ram's head to right, with a stalk of wheat below, to right.
Rev: K-E Laureate head of Apollo to right
Ref: Lazzarini series 4, SNG Copenhagen 266-267 var. (stalk of wheat instead of eagle).
Notes: Rare variety, attractive green patina. Very fine.
Resettlements of Kebren
This series was issued until 310 BC when Antigonus I Monophthalmus incorporating the residents of surrounding towns of Gargara, Hamaxitos, Neandria, Kolonai, Larisa, Kebren, and Skepsis to Antigoneia, which was later renamed Alexandreia (of the Troad) under Lysimachus.
"...Alexandreia, which had indeed already been founded by Antigonus and called Antigonia, but had changed its name, for it was thought to be a pious thing for the successors of Alexander to found cities bearing his name before they founded cities bearing their own. And indeed the city endured and grew, and at present it not only has received a colony of Romans but is one of the notable cities of the world."
-Strabo Geography, 13.1.26This aggregation of smaller communities, towns or villages into a larger political entity is called "synoecism" (Greek: synoikismos, meaning "dwelling together").
The people of Kebren are thought to have renamed themselves Antiocheia in the Troad after Seleucus I Nicator defeated Lysimachus at the Battle of Corupedium (281 BCE). Seleucus I was assassinated in 281 and his son Antiochus I succeeded him.
References:
L. Lazzarini, Note sulle monete bronzee di Kebren nella Troade, RIN 88, 1986, 30
Cohen, Getzel M. The Hellenistic Settlements in Europe, the Islands, and Asia Minor. University of California Press, 1995.
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