Hemidrachm of the Phokians under Phayllos c. 354

Curator: Here we have a Hemidrachm of the Phokians under Phayllos, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Well, the first thing that strikes me is this fierce bull's head on one side. It's so direct, almost confrontational. Curator: Indeed. The bull likely symbolized the wealth and power associated with agriculture and animal husbandry, central to Phokian identity. Flip it over, and you'll see a head of a woman. Editor: Ah, yes, now I see it. A profile crowned with laurel, so serene compared to the bull. I wonder about the contrast. Curator: Likely representing a deity or a local nymph, a symbol of the region's natural beauty and divine protection. It speaks volumes about the duality they perceived in their world. Editor: It makes you think about the stories these tiny coins could tell, doesn’t it? Curator: Absolutely. Visual symbols were a potent means of reinforcing cultural memory and continuity.