Stater of Tarsos under Mazaios c. 361

Curator: Here we have a Stater of Tarsos, created under Mazaios. It is currently located at the Harvard Art Museums and weighs approximately 10.49 grams. Editor: It’s remarkable how much detail is packed into such a small object! The images are worn with age, but I still see a commanding figure and a powerful bull. Curator: Exactly! The seated figure is thought to be Baal of Tarsos, a local deity, while the bull may be connected to ancient Mesopotamian beliefs about divine power and fertility. Editor: It reminds us that even the smallest objects—especially coinage—carry cultural weight. Consider how this coin may have shaped perceptions of power and prosperity in Tarsos. Curator: And it’s a beautiful reminder of how symbols persist. We see echoes of these archetypes in later representations of rulers and gods, creating threads across time. Editor: Absolutely. It’s a tangible reminder of how visual motifs echo and evolve. Curator: It does make you wonder about the many hands that must have touched this piece!