Tetradrachm (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Athena
about 163 BCE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 3 cm (1 3/16 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
9655
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
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 ...
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...