About this artwork
Editor: This is a coin of Megara under Commodus, crafted by Commodus himself. It looks pretty worn. On one side, I see a portrait, and on the other, a figure, maybe a god? What strikes you about the imagery here? Curator: The wear is telling, isn’t it? It speaks to its life as a carrier of cultural memory. The portrait, likely Commodus, links imperial power to the local Megaran identity on the reverse. The figure might represent a local deity, bridging Roman rule with established belief systems. What emotions do you associate with the way these symbols are combined? Editor: I think it's really fascinating how symbols are adapted and combined. Thanks for explaining this! Curator: My pleasure. Symbols are powerful tools for understanding the past.
Coin of Megara under Commodus
c. 2th century
Artwork details
- Dimensions
- 7.1 g
- Location
- Harvard Art Museums
- Copyright
- CC0 1.0
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About this artwork
Editor: This is a coin of Megara under Commodus, crafted by Commodus himself. It looks pretty worn. On one side, I see a portrait, and on the other, a figure, maybe a god? What strikes you about the imagery here? Curator: The wear is telling, isn’t it? It speaks to its life as a carrier of cultural memory. The portrait, likely Commodus, links imperial power to the local Megaran identity on the reverse. The figure might represent a local deity, bridging Roman rule with established belief systems. What emotions do you associate with the way these symbols are combined? Editor: I think it's really fascinating how symbols are adapted and combined. Thanks for explaining this! Curator: My pleasure. Symbols are powerful tools for understanding the past.
Comments
Share your thoughts