Histamenon of the Augusta Eudokia Makrembolitissa c. 1067

Curator: This, friends, is the Histamenon of the Augusta Eudokia Makrembolitissa, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels weighty, doesn't it? Not just in grams, but in history. The sheer density of meaning packed into this tiny gold disc. Curator: Precisely. Each side is stamped with iconography. One side depicts Christ enthroned, while the other features the Augusta herself with, presumably, members of her royal family. Editor: The figures feel so rigidly posed, almost like hieroglyphs. It's a fascinating contrast between the divine and the earthly, captured in this shimmering gold. Curator: These coins weren't just currency; they were potent symbols of imperial power and divine mandate. A statement of sovereignty and legitimacy, circulated across the realm. Editor: It is a tactile reminder of power, faith, and the human desire to leave a mark. A tiny sun, radiating authority from centuries past. Curator: Yes, a pocket-sized testament to an era, echoing with stories yet untold.