Siglos of Croesus of Lydia, Sardis c. 6th century

Editor: This is a Siglos of Croesus of Lydia, Sardis. It's pretty small. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The lion and bull confront each other, symbols of power and fertility, locked in eternal struggle. This image on currency suggests the wealth and might of Croesus were intertwined with these potent symbols. What stories do you think this imagery was meant to convey? Editor: Maybe it was about demonstrating power and prosperity? Curator: Indeed. The choice of these animals speaks volumes about Lydian cultural values and how Croesus wanted to be perceived. It’s fascinating how much cultural memory can be embedded in such a small object. Editor: That is pretty interesting!