Tetradrachm of Antiochos III the Great of Syria c. 223

Curator: This is a tetradrachm, a silver coin, of Antiochos III the Great of Syria. It's amazing to hold something so old, isn’t it? Editor: It is! It gives me this strange sense of melancholy, like staring into a very, very old mirror, if that makes any sense. Curator: Absolutely! On one side, we see the portrait of Antiochos himself, with his regal diadem. The other side depicts a seated Apollo, god of music and light. Editor: The choice of Apollo is fascinating, almost like a soft-power PR campaign. Invoking cultural ideals, projecting an image of enlightenment and order... Curator: Indeed. It speaks to the deliberate construction of an image. You know, every time I look at it, I imagine all the hands this coin has passed through. Editor: And the empires it has witnessed! This little coin really encapsulates the intersection of power, representation, and the enduring human need for legacy. Curator: A pocket-sized piece of history, indeed.