Art Institute of Chicago

Tetradrachm (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Athena

Greek

Date

about 163 BCE

Medium

Silver

Culture

Athens

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

The front of this coin depicts the goddess Athena Parthenos wearing a triple crested Athenian helmet, the decorative scheme of which includes a flying Pegasus, palmettes and scrolls; the cheek piece of the helmet is raised, revealing loose curls of hair on the goddess's neck and a pendant earring. A decorative border of dots is partially preserved. On the back an Owl, another symbol of Athena, stands atop a vessel on its side. A diminutive eagle is shown perched at left. The scene is encircled by an olive wreath.

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