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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/

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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)

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  3. chapps.bsky.social profile picture

    Chapps @chapps.bsky.social

    These are actually two different examples of this coin, so that we can see both sides. The nymph (or nereid) Arethusa was transformed into a freshwater spring on the island of Ortygia, adjacent to Syracuse, by Artemis, to escape the clutches of a river god. Gorgeous hairnet! 🏺 2/

    flic.kr/p/2rp3xBR

    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...

    Silver decadrachm (coin) from ancient Syracuse depicting the nymph Arethusa

    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...
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