![Tetradrachm: Head of Alexander III [The Great] (obverse); Athena (reverse)](https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.994/1916.994_web.jpg)
Cleveland Museum of Art
Tetradrachm: Head of Alexander III [The Great] (obverse); Athena (reverse)
- Date
- 306 BCE
- Medium
- silver
- Culture
- Egypt, Greco-Roman period (332 BCE–395 CE), reign of Ptolemy I (303–282 BCE), minted at Alexandria
- Department
- Greek and Roman Art
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Object ID
- 97411
From the Cleveland Museum of Art record
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.” The image of Alexander the Great in an elephant headdress references his Eastern conquests.
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Provenance & credit
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- Credit line
- Gift of J. H. Wade
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