Coin of Antiochos VII Eurgetes of Syria c. 2th century

Editor: This is a coin of Antiochos VII Eurgetes of Syria. What strikes me is its direct connection to a specific historical figure. How do you interpret its significance as a relic of power? Curator: Precisely! Beyond currency, this coin embodies Seleucid power dynamics. The ruler's effigy, the symbols—they all construct and disseminate a particular ideology. How does understanding its context inform our view on ancient political propaganda and power? Editor: It’s fascinating to consider it as a form of ancient media, shaping perceptions. Curator: Indeed, by examining its iconography through a feminist lens, what can we infer about the cultural expectations and gendered roles of the time? Editor: I hadn't considered that angle! Thanks, I'm seeing so much more now. Curator: It’s a lens for understanding the stories it tells about power, identity, and societal structures, then and now.