Tetradrachm of Syracuse

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

[no text]

ARTH250 (Professor V. Rousseau, fall 2019)

c. 485-465 BCE

MG

University Art Collection, University of St. Thomas (St. Paul)

[no text]

Tetradrachm (17.03g)

Greek

Physical Object

2019.04.007

Greek