One of the most significant collections devoted to ancient Greek coins, that of Alpha Bank, will provide the core of "Money: Tangible symbols in ancient Greece," a new exhibition at the Museum of Cycladic Art opening on November 2.
Eighty-five coins from the bank's collection along with 160 objects including ceramic vessels, statuettes and jewelry will help trace the development of coin iconography and its use, from the end of the 7th century BC to the Roman era. The objects surrounding the numismatic collection come from 32 archaeological museums and collections in Greece, Italy, France and the United Kingdom.
From being a basic part of human transactions which ancient peoples used to cover their basic daily needs, coins later developed into tangible objects of historical significance. Their symbolism can be deciphered to reveal the power of states and rulers, historical data, and the extent of ancient trade, as they were stamped with the name of the city that minted them.
The objects in the exhibit have been arranged into eight units, beginning from the earliest examples of coins without images to later ones that depicted increasingly abstract ideas, from historical events, political leadership and religious beliefs, to prosperity, victory and power.
The exhibit, which will run to April 2018, was curated by Cycladic Museum director Nicholas Stampolidis, archaeologist Yorgos Tassoulas, and bank collection curator Dimitra Tsangari.
A catalogue in both Greek and English will be available as well.
Information:
Museum of Cycladic Art, tel. +30 210 722 8321-3
November 2, 2017 - April 15, 2018
Source: amna.gr