Cleveland Museum of Art (Egyptian) · other
Tetradrachm: Head of Alexander III [The Great] (obverse); Athena (reverse)
Description
[Egypt, Greco-Roman period (332 BCE–395 CE), reign of Ptolemy I (303–282 BCE), minted at Alexandria] Much like his former commander Alexander III (the Great) showed connections to Herakles and Zeus, Ptolemy I Soter (the Savior) used coins to validate his succession to power. Thus, in place of Herakles with lion-skin, this coin shows Alexander in an elephant headdress, referring to their shared Eastern triumphs. On the reverse is Athena Promachos, striding forward with shield and spear. Before her are a helmet and an eagle, and behind her the inscription ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, “of Alexander.”
Inscriptions (1)
Inscription #1
Transcription
ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥEnglish description
Of Alexander
Cross-references (2)
- Wikidata Q79481821 tier-1
- CMA-id 97411 tier-2
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- From the source institution — accession, description, dimensions, and dating are as catalogued by Cleveland Museum of Art (Egyptian).
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