Classical Tetradrachm of Syracuse

ca. 410 BCE

1 in. x 1 in. x 3/16 in. (2.5 cm x 2.54 cm x 0.4 cm)

This object has the following keywords:

• Classical - Refers to an ancient Greek style and period that begins around 480 BCE, when the Greek city-states defeated the Persian invaders, and ends around 323 BCE, with the death of Alexander the Great. It is characterized by the rebuilding of cities after the Persian wars, the flourishing of philosophy, drama, architecture, sculpture, painting, and the other arts. In the visual arts, it is known for the mastery of the human form and sophistication of architectural design.
• female - Referring to the sex that normally produces eggs or female germ cells.
• Gods and Goddesses - Added June 2010 by M. Weldon
• grain - General term for the small, hard seeds of various species in different genera of the grass family Poaceae, used as cereal plants, such as wheat, rice, corn, rye, or oats.
• quadrigas - Ancient war or racing chariots drawn by four horses abreast.
• Satyrs and Maenads - Maenads are human female followers of Dionysus (sometimes called Nymphai) - Note added June 2010 by M. Weldon.
• silver - Pure metallic element having symbol Ag and atomic number 47; a malleable, ductile, white metal with characteristic sheen, considered a precious metal. Silver is widely distributed throughout the world, occurring rarely as metallic silver (in Peru, Norway) but more often as silver-gold alloys and silver ore. Today silver is obtained as a byproduct in the refinement of gold, lead, copper, or zinc ores. Silver was smelted from the ore galena as early as 3800 BCE. As a pure metal, silver is second to gold in malleability and ductility, can be polished to a highly reflective surface, and used -- typically in an alloy -- in jewelry, coinage, photography, mirrors, electrical contacts, and tableware.
• tetradrachms - Ancient Greek coins worth four drachmas, originally of pure silver but gradually debased over its lifetime from the mid-6th century BCE until about CE 300.