Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, Odessos c. 125 - 170

Editor: This is a silver tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, and I see Alexander on one side and what looks like Zeus on the other. What significance did these coins hold in spreading Alexander's image and influence? Curator: These coins, beyond their economic function, were a crucial tool in constructing and disseminating Alexander's image. How do you think the visual language of power – his idealized features, association with Zeus – contributed to his perceived legitimacy? Editor: It’s like a form of propaganda, right? To cement his divine right and power across his vast empire. Curator: Precisely. Consider how this seemingly simple object embodies complex negotiations of power, identity, and representation in the ancient world. How does it speak to the enduring legacy of empires and their use of visual culture? Editor: That's fascinating – I never thought a coin could be so politically charged. Curator: Indeed. It prompts us to consider the stories that objects tell and whose voices are amplified through them.