About this artwork
The ancient city of Neapolis (near modern Kavala, Greece) was famous for its horse-breeding, so they chose to honor the snake-haired Medusa, mother of the miraculous winged horse Pegasus, on the front (obverse) of their coins. On the back (reverse), they depicted the maiden Parthenos, a local moon goddess and patron of the city. These images helped link Neapolis to a set of Greek deities and myths shared by city-states across the Mediterranean.
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Status
- On View, Gallery 151
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Department
- Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
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Culture
- Ancient Greek
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Title
- Drachm (Coin) Depicting the Gorgon Medusa
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Place
- Kavála (Minted in:)
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Date
- Struck 411 BCE–356 BCE
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Medium
- Silver
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Inscriptions
- Reverse: Ν Ε Ο Π "Neop[oliton]"
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Dimensions
- Diam.: 1.5 cm (5/8 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Martin A. Ryerson
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Reference Number
- 1922.4922
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/5758/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.