Follis of Constans II 641 - 656

Curator: This is a Follis of Constans II, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Look closely at its worn surface—it speaks volumes about its journey through time. Editor: There's a stark, almost haunting quality to it. The muted tones and fragmented design suggest a loss of empire, a rupture. What symbols can you glean? Curator: The cross is prominent, a symbol of the Byzantine empire's deep connection to Christianity. And the inscription, though fragmented, held significant power and authority for the emperor. Editor: The cross is interesting, it is not like the usual crucifix. How would the populace respond to such a symbol? Was it used in other contexts? Curator: Coinage like this served as a powerful tool for disseminating imperial ideology. It was currency, yes, but also propaganda, constantly reinforcing the emperor's image and divine mandate. Editor: Seeing these icons reduced to this state, though, highlights the vulnerability of those symbols. Time and circumstance really do wear everything down. Curator: Absolutely. It offers a tangible link to the past, a material record of cultural and political forces at play. Editor: I'm left contemplating how symbols shift with context, gaining and losing meaning as empires rise and crumble. It’s all so ephemeral, isn't it?