AR Stater of Issus
money; Coins (money)
On the obverse of the coin, the god Apollo stands facing to the left, leaning against a laurel tree with a libation bowl held in his hand. On the coin’s reverse side, the demigod Herakles stands facing the right while holding a lion skin, a club, and a bow. The imagery of the Greek gods is an example of the high level of Greek influence in the area.
Issus, Cilicia
ARTH250 (Professor V. Rousseau, fall 2019)
400-370 BCE
MM
University Art Collection, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)
Silver (metal)
Physical object
2019.04.006
Achaemenid Empire, Greek, Persian, Issus, Cilicia
AR Tetradrachm of Syracuse
money; coins (money)
The obverse side has the head of Arethusa, who was a nymph and daughter of Nereus. She fled her home, Arcadia, beneath the sea and came up as a fresh spring in Syracuse. Her figure is surrounded by four dolphins, who helped in her escape. The reverse depicts a charioteer driving a quadriga pulled by horses. Above is Nike, the goddess of victory, crowning the four horses which represented the victory they brought to Syracuse.
City of Syracuse
N/A
ARTH250 (Professor V. Rousseau, Fall 2019)
485-465 BCE
MR
University Art Collection, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)
Silver (metal)
Greek
Physical Object
2019.04.008
Greek
AU Stater of Mithridates VI
money; coins (money)
Mithridates' royal propaganda expresses both his eastern and western ancestry and military victory. The obverse of this coin depicts Alexander the Great wearing the horn of Zeus Ammon. The reverse shows Athena seated with her elbow resting on a shield, holding the goddess Nike. Athena was the goddess of war and practical reason. She was considered urban, civilized, and guardian of the city. Nike was the goddess of victory and is often connected with Athena.
Mithridates
ARTH250 (Professor V. Rousseau, fall 2019)
120-63 BCE
MIA
University Art Collection, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)
Gold (metal)
Physical Object
2019. 04.010
Pontic Kingdom, Greek, Hellenistic
Didrachm of the Kingdom of Paeonia
money; coins (money)
Alexander the Great Didrachms became a staple coin of Greece, because it was commonly used for international trade. Pictured on the front is the head of Herakles, the greatest hero of the Greeks. Herakles' lion skin headpiece is symbolic of his accomplishments to become a demigod. Depicted on the reverse is a muscular Zeus seated on a throne while holding an eagle and scepter. These are symbols of Zeus ‘s power.
Alexander the Great; King of Macedonia
BMC 5-19
ARTH250 (Professor V. Rousseau, fall 2019)
336-323 BCE
MG, SH
University Art Collection, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)
Didrachm
Greek
Physical Object
2012.02.190
Greek
Drachm of Ptolemy IV
money; coins (money)
The face of Zeus-Ammon adorns the front of this coin and the eagle that is the symbol of Zeus is on the back. Zeus-Ammon is the pairing of the two godkings of the Greek and Egyptian pantheons. The joining of these cultures is an attempt to legitimize the fact that Egypt since the time of Alexander was ruled by Greeks instead of Egyptians.
Ptolemy IV
ARTH250 (Professor V. Rousseau, fall 2019)
222-205 BCE
BS
University Art Collection, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)
Alloy (metal) 4.1 cm
Greek
Physical Object
2019.04.009
Hellenistic Egypt
Tetradrachm of Syracuse
money; coins (money)
The front side shows the head of Arethusa, a nymph praised for her beauty. She is wearing pearls and a necklace which often showed high status. The four dolphins surrounding Arethusa connects her to Syracuse, Sicily because the sea is important to the city. The reverse shows Nike, the goddess of victory, crowning the horses. Nike is shown flying above as she is known as the “winged goddess”. Arethusa and Nike both represent goddesses important to Sicily.
Arethusa, Dolphins
ARTH250 (Professor V. Rousseau, fall 2019)
c. 485-465 BCE
MG
University Art Collection, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)
Tetradrachm (17.03g)
Greek
Physical Object
2019.04.007
Greek