The Thessalian League was an ancient confederation of city-states in Northern Greece, a land rich in mythological significance. Achilles and Jason were born in Thessaly, Centaurs called it home, and its people are said to be descended from the great warrior Heracles. Independent for centuries, the area fell under Macedonian rule in 344 BCE. The Romans took Thessaly in 197 BCE, defeating Philip V of Macedon, and established an autonomous protectorate. It was appropriate that the new Thessalian League chose to honor two mainstays of Greek mythology on this, treasured coin: Apollo, the God of the Sun, and Pallas Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and War. This coin was struck for the newly independent Thessalian League at the mint in the City of Larissa, circa 196-146 BCE.