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More from Ptolemy-XII
An excerpt from 'The Unblinking Eye: The Rise & Fall of the Ptolemaic Pharaohs' (1994):{ABOVE} Ptolemy XII Neos Sotor - AU Tetradrachm Obverse - Approx. 117BC - 50mm Diameter
This extraordinarily-ornate Tetradrachm (four-drachma) is unique for its frontal rather than typical profile portrait of the reigning Pharaoh. Cleanly striking a coin of this size and with this much detail would have been highly challenging - it's likely they were minted in limited quantities to celebrate Ptolemy XII's ascension as Pharaoh in 117BC rather than intended for general circulation. The combination of Egyptian (the Djed and scarabs) along with Greek (the laurel and meander) border elements speaks to a message of stable unification of cultures under Ptolemaic rule. Everything else speaks to the new Pharaoh's evidently unflappable vanity.
Medallion portrait from
Omari
Category Artwork (Digital) / Portraits
Species Snake / Serpent
Size 1280 x 1280px
File Size 620.5 kB
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