Coin of Antiochos III, the Great of Syria, Seleuceia c. 220

Editor: This is a coin of Antiochos III, the Great of Syria. It’s a small, worn piece, but it feels weighty with history. What stories do you think it holds? Curator: This coin represents more than just currency; it embodies power and the assertion of cultural identity within the Seleucid Empire. Consider Antiochos III's epithet, "the Great." What does that signify in terms of his self-perception and the image he wished to project? Editor: It feels like a statement of dominance, especially in a world undergoing massive shifts in power. Curator: Precisely. And how does this coin function as a form of propaganda, circulating his image and, by extension, his authority throughout his vast territories? Think about the implications of a single, standardized image shaping perceptions of a ruler. Editor: It’s a portable representation of power. I hadn’t considered it in those terms before! Curator: Exactly. This small object becomes a crucial tool in understanding the complexities of identity, power, and representation in the ancient world. Editor: That’s really broadened my perspective on historical artifacts. Thanks! Curator: The past speaks, if we listen critically to its relics.