Hexagram of Constans II c. 654 - 659

Editor: Here we have a Hexagram of Constans II at the Harvard Art Museums. Seeing it like this, it feels very disconnected from its original context. What's your take on this piece? Curator: This coin speaks volumes about power, religion, and representation in 7th-century Byzantium. Consider Constans II's image alongside the cross – what does it communicate about imperial authority and divine legitimacy during a period of immense social upheaval? Editor: It's interesting how a small object can carry such weight. I never thought about it that way before. Curator: Indeed! It's a potent reminder that art, even in its most modest forms, is deeply embedded in the socio-political fabric of its time. Editor: I'll definitely look at these objects with a different perspective now. Thank you!