Double (?) of Antiochos I Soter of Syria, Seleucia c. 280

Curator: Look at this interesting artifact; a Double (?) of Antiochos I Soter of Syria, Seleucia, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a distinctly archaic feel, like a weathered token imbued with ancient memories. Curator: Indeed, the coin presents two distinct sides, with the double portrait of Antiochos himself, which conveys power and authority in a uniquely structured composition. Editor: I’m struck by the figures depicted here; the symbolic figures invoke themes of kingship, divinity and the legacy of Seleucid rule in Syria. Curator: I agree, the artist certainly explored the visual language of power in this coin. Editor: In contemplating its imagery, I am left to consider the ways in which visual symbols bridge the gap between the past and present. Curator: Yes, its visual forms and materiality speak volumes.