Cleveland Museum of Art

Hecte: Head of Omphale (obverse); Incuse Square (reverse)

Date

387–326 BCE

Medium

electrum (gold-silver alloy)

Culture

Greek, minted at Phokaia (Ionia)

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This very small electrum coin shows the Lydian queen Omphale on the obverse. She can be distinguished from Herakles, whose lion-skin she wears, by her earring. Also visible, over her shoulder, is the hero’s club, while beneath her swims a small seal— phôkê in Greek, a punning reference to Phokaia, where the coin was made. The reverse features a much simpler design, a quartered incuse square. The Lydian queen Omphale wears the lion skin of Herakles, whom she enslaved.

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