Derrones

Paeonia,tribes and Environs

The Derrones (or Deroni, Derroni) were a Paionian tribe. Our knowledge of them comes from coins bearing variations of the legend of DERRONIKON (ΔΕΡΡΟΝΙΚΟΝ) - DERR (ΔΕΡΡ). The letters used in the coins seem to be Greek. These coins are traditionally dated to 500-450 BC.^[1]

Based on numismatic evidence, and especially coin hoards, there are two theories regarding the geographic position of the tribe.

The first theory claims that they should be placed in the central Balkans, in the northern part of the Republic of Macedonia (at the Upper Strymon valley), while the second theory considers that this tribe, at least at the time of the striking of the inscribed coins (i.e. early 5th century), was based in an area further to the south.

Frequent depictions on the coins attributed to the Derrones are Oxen and Corinthian helmets. Their god, Darr(h)on, was worshipped by Paionians and Macedonians.^[2]

Lykkeios and Euergetes are two kings depicted on Derroni coins.

Notes

1. ^ http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/thraco_macedonian_tribes/derrones/t.html
2. ^ http://www.jstor.org/pss/409430

References

- SVORONOS J.N., « L’Hellénisme primitif de la Macédoine prouve par la Numismatique et l’or du Pangée », JIAN 19 (1919).
- HAMMOND N.G.L., GRIFFITH G.T., A History of Macedonia II, Oxford 1979.
- PETROVA Eleonora, “The coinage of the Paeonian Tribal Organisations and Paeonian Kings (VI to III Centuries B.C.), Coins and mints in Macedonia: in Proceedings of the symposium held in honor of the 80th birthday and 50th anniversary of the scholarly and educational work of Ksente Bogoev, member of the Macedonian Academy of Arts and Sciences / [Cvetan Grozdanov, editor ; translated by Elizabeta Bakovska, Katerina Hristovska]. Skopje : Macedonian Academy of Arts and Sciences : National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia, 2001, pp. 13-27