Art Institute of Chicago

Hemidrachm (Coin) Depicting the God Zeus Amarios

Greek

Date

280-146 BCE

Medium

Silver

Culture

Achaea department

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the head of Zeus Amarios, facing to the right. On the back (reverse) is a monogram symbol of the Achaean League within a laurel wreath. Zeus Amarios, along with Demeter Panachaia, were the protecting deities of the Achaean League, which was first formed in the fifth century BCE as a confederation of Greek city-states in the Peloponnese of Greece. Temples to both deities were situated side by side at Aegium, in the northwestern Peloponnese, where the main assemly of the League held its meeting. A second Achaean League was established in 280 BCE but was later conquered and dissolved by the Romans in 146 BCE.

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