DISPUTING CULTURES

The Didrachm of Kingdom of Paeonia coin is a staple coin of Greece portraying international trade using the head of Herakles. He was considered the greatest hero of the Greeks. In contrast, the AE Quadrans coin was founded in Rome and also has the head of Hercules, but has a different meaning and is spelt differently. They represent the same person and share some commonalities, but the Greek and Roman stories differ greatly. The Greek coin was created first, however the Romans were the first ones to create a shrine for him.

The Romans adopted a few changes from the Greeks. The spelling difference is very significant and shows where the stories differ. Herkales in Greek culture were seen as a hero, rather than a god. Hera is the wife of Zeus, however she was not the mother of Herakles. Because of this, she hated him and sought out to destroy him in Greek mythology. Roman beliefs, however, saw Zeus and Hercules as gods with higher power. The Greeks portrayed him as youthful and well-shaven. Rome, in contrast, celebrated him as the invincible, the guardian, or the victor. The reverse sides of these coins are completely separate. The reverse side of the Greek coin shows Zeus and the power he held seated on the throne. The reverse side of the Roman coin shows a galley or boat representing the seas and trade on them. This shows the desires of each culture. The Greeks were focused on power and strength, when the Romans were focused on money and trade. The comparison of these two coins show a few minor differences between the Greek and Roman culture and the different interpretations they can portray on coins.