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Gain access to this incredible resource through either a monthly or a yearly subscription and search the entire collection from your desktop, compare multiple images side by side and zoom into the minute details of the images. Visit www.davidrumsey.com/amica for more information on the collection, click on the link below the revolving thumbnail to the right, or email us at amica@luna-img.com . Creator Name: Unknown Creator Nationality: European; Southern European; Mediterranean Creator Dates/Places: Ancient Greece Early Western World,Ancient Mediterranean,Ancient Creator Active Place: Early Western World,Ancient Mediterranean,Ancient Creator Name-CRT: Greek Title: Coin Showing Persephone ('Kore') Title Type: preferred View: reverse Creation Start Date: -31 Creation End Date: -30 Creation Date: Hellenistic Period, 310/07 B.C. Creation Place: Europe,Italy,Sicilia (region) Object Type: Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects Classification Term: Coin Materials and Techniques: Silver tetradrachm Dimensions: Diam.: 2.7 cm (1 in.) Inscriptions: Obverse [in Greek]: 'Koras'; '[coin of} Kore'Reverse: around, 'Agathokleios' [in Greek]; '[coin of] Agathocles' AMICA Contributor: The Art Institute of Chicago Owner Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA ID Number: 1922.4908 Credit Line: The Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Martin A. Ryerson Rights: http://www.artic.edu/aic/rights/main.rights.html Subject Description: The obverse of this coin has political overtones. The older coinage of Syracuse had as its obverse type the local spring nymph Arethusa. By the end of the fourth century B.C., she had become somewhat identified with another maiden goddess, Persephone (Kore). With this coin, the merging of these elements is complete: whereas seaweed once wreathed the nymph's hair, here Kore is crowned with grain in homage to Sicily's fame as the breadbasket of the Mediterranean (Kore's mother/double is Demeter, goddess ofgrain and all the fruits of the earth). To ensure that the metamorphosis is recognized, Kore's name is spelled out on the coin.On the reverse a winged Victory crowns a trophy of armor advertising Agathokles' military success. Context: Greek, minted in Syracuse, Sicily;issued by Agathokles, tyrant of Syracuse, reigned 317-289 B.C. This exquisite coin owes its design to political violence and ambition. It was minted to commemorate the victory of the would-be king Agathokles over his political rivals in Syracuse and their dangerous Carthaginian allies in 317 B.C. Sicily was wealthy, powerful, and sophisticated; the cosmopolitan city of Syracuse had long prided itself on the high quality of its artists-including its cooin engravers-and Agathokles continued that tradition. It has been suggested that Agathokles, while not wanting to tamper too much with the successful and recognizable coinage of Syracuse, still preferred to abandon the local nymph Arethusa in favor of a pan-Sicilian grain goddess who would advertise the fact that he now ruled nearly the entire, wheat-wealthy island. AMICA ID: AIC_.1922.4908 AMICA Library Year: 1998 Media Metadata Rights: Copyright The Art Institute of Chicago, 1998 AMICA PUBLIC RIGHTS: a) Access to the materials is granted for personal and non-commercial use. b) A full educational license for non-commercial use is available from Cartography Associates at www.davidrumsey.com/amica/institution_subscribe.html c) Licensed users may continue their examination of additional materials provided by Cartography Associates, and d) commercial rights are available from the rights holder. Home
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