Tetradrachm (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Athena
before 490 BCE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 2.2 cm (7/8 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
141480
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the goddess Athena, facing right. On the back (reverse), an owl stands facing right, its wings folded against its body which is detailed with dots and fine lines indicating the different types of feathers. In the upper right an olive branch with two long leaves is shown.
About the Artist
Ancient Greek
The artist known simply as "Ancient Greek" represents the anonymous masters of Attic vase painting, a cornerstone of Classical Greek art from the Archaic and Classical periods (circa 700–300 BCE). Little is known of their personal life, as ancient Greek potters and painters rarely signed their works or left biographical traces; early life and training remain not well documented. These creators ope...