Coin of Agathokles, Tyrant of Syracuse c. 317

Curator: Looking at this coin, worn with time, I’m immediately struck by the profile. It’s classical, strong, but also somehow…melancholy. Editor: This is a coin of Agathokles, Tyrant of Syracuse, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Coins like this were a form of propaganda, circulating images and ideas about leadership and power, sometimes even deifying the ruler in question. Curator: Propaganda... hmm. It feels more intimate than that. There's a vulnerability in the details, in the way the light catches the metal. It speaks of fleeting power. Editor: Considering the context of Syracuse as a site of repeated conflict, this intimacy might be a strategic representation. The choice to depict the ruler in a 'vulnerable' way could be meant to create solidarity with the population, while simultaneously reifying his power. Curator: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered that performative aspect. It still feels like a whisper of humanity. It’s a potent reminder that even tyrants are just people, crafting their image for posterity, desperately wanting to be remembered, or perhaps, forgiven. Editor: Yes, and analyzing these objects lets us unpack the complexities of power, representation, and the enduring human struggle for recognition and control. Curator: A heavy weight on a tiny piece of metal.