Stater of Azbaal I, Kition c. 449

Curator: Before us is a silver stater, issued by Azbaal I of Kition. The coin weighs 11 grams and resides in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It feels incredibly tactile, doesn't it? I'm immediately drawn to its rough, almost primal form. It looks weighty, solid. Curator: The figuration, though worn, reveals the cultural exchange present at the time. One side depicts Herakles, a Greek hero adopted by the Phoenicians. Editor: Herakles embodies strength, resilience—powerful symbols adopted by rulers to project authority, wouldn't you agree? The lion skin on the other side must be a reference to his famous deeds. Curator: Precisely. The composition, while rudimentary, displays an understanding of proportion and balance within a very small space. Editor: To me, it’s a miniature echo of empire – the durability of silver juxtaposed against symbols of power, designed to circulate through hands and history. Curator: A fascinating intersection of material, form, and symbol, indeed. Editor: It gives one a sense of continuity, like holding a piece of ancient history in one's own hands.