chapps.bsky.social profile picture

Chapps @chapps.bsky.social

If you had to imagine one of the most beautiful coins of antiquity, you might be dreaming of this beauty - a silver decadrachm from Syracuse, Sicily. On the reverse, the nymph Arethusa, patron of the city, is surrounded by (nice) dolphins; on the obverse, a victorious quadriga. 🏺 1/

📸 me

The reverse of this silver decadrachm depicts the profile of Arethusa, a nymph (or nereid) who was transformed into a freshwater spring on the tiny island of Ortygia adjacent to Syracuse, Sicily. As the patron figure of Syracuse, Arethusa is shown with her hair in a beautiful net (golden hairnets were a luxury of the elite) and surrounded by swimming dolphins. An inscription above and to the side of her head reads: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩ[Ν], or Syrakosion - Syracuse. Greek, minted in Syracuse, Sicily, Italy (part of Magna Graecia, Great Greece - the Greek colonies in Italy), ca. 405-400 BCE. Silver. Diameter: 37.8 mm (1.488 in.) Weight: 43.11 g Getty Villa Museum, on loan from the American Numismatic Society (1964.79.21)Depicted here on the obverse (front) of this silver coin is a quadriga (four-horse chariot), with Nike flying above and crowned the victorious charioteer. The armor below that scene is described as a 'panoply'. There is an inscription - AΘΛΑ ('athla') - the root of 'athletics'. Greek, Syracuse, Sicily (part of Magna Graecia, Great Greece, the Greek colonies in Italy), ca. 405-400 BCE. Diameter: 38 mm Weight: 43.15 g Getty Villa Museum, on loan from the American Numismatic Society (1967.152.534)
3

Replies

  1. chapps.bsky.social profile picture

    Chapps @chapps.bsky.social

    Isn’t it? Insanely beautiful, and the reins on the horses are less than the width of a human hair. This coin really has it all.

    1