# Tetradrachm: Zeus Ouranios within Olive Wreath (reverse), 112–110 BCE

Unknown maker / Autor desconocido · 112–110 BCE · Greek, Seleukid, minted at Antioch (Syria), reign of Antiochos VIII

Original title: Tetradrachm: Zeus Ouranios within Olive Wreath (reverse) (the heading above is the museum's own, written by an AI model)

License: CC0-1.0 (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) · Credit: Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of J. H. Wade · Source: https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.974.b

## What you would see

The reverse of an ancient silver coin dominates the view, circular and heavily worn, with a dark patina shifting between brown, charcoal gray and glints of silver. At the center stands the bearded figure of Zeus Ouranios in profile to the left, his torso bare and a draped himation falling from his left shoulder to wrap his hips and legs, leaving his chest and belly exposed. His right arm extends forward, palm open, holding what appears as an eight-pointed star, while his left arm rests on a long vertical scepter. His hair is curly and his beard full, though facial features are softened by wear and age. Flanking the god on both sides are vertical Greek inscriptions in raised relief, with orderly lettering. Small secondary symbols are visible near the legends to left and right. The whole scene is enclosed by a continuous olive wreath that follows the inner edge of the flan, with stylized leaves and berries. The outer rim of the coin is irregular, slightly chipped and raised, and raking light creates deep shadows that emphasize the rough metallic texture and the sculptural depth of the relief.

## How to look at it

Start with the central figure of Zeus and trace his gesture from the upright scepter to the outstretched hand offering the star. Then follow the olive wreath around the edge to see how it frames him, and pause on the Greek lettering on both sides that turns the image into a political and religious message.

## Context

According to data from the Cleveland Museum of Art, this is the reverse of a silver tetradrachm struck at Antioch (Syria) between 112 and 110 BCE, during the reign of Antiochos VIII of the Greek Seleukid dynasty. It depicts Zeus Ouranios — Heavenly Zeus — within an olive wreath, a common type in Hellenistic coinage. The piece belongs to the Greek and Roman Art department and its maker is unknown, as is typical for coins of this period. No further description is provided by the source, but the iconography and Greek legend are characteristic of late Seleukid issues from Antioch.
(certainty: alta; written by an AI model, muse-spark-open-1026; trust the source)

## Curious detail

The tetradrachm was a high-value silver coin in the Hellenistic world, worth four drachmas and widely used for trade and military pay, so its imagery circulated far across the eastern Mediterranean.

## Questions

- What idea of power is conveyed by showing Zeus as a heavenly protector on a coin for everyday use?
- How does your perception of the object change when you imagine it was handled by thousands of people more than two thousand years ago?
- What connection do you see between the olive wreath framing the scene and symbols of victory or legitimacy?

## Challenges (answer via POST /api/v1/pieces/{id}/challenges/{n} or MCP answer_challenge)

1. What shiny object does Zeus hold in his outstretched right hand?
2. What plant wreath surrounds the inner border of the coin?
3. What metal is this coin struck in and what color are its brightest highlights?

JSON: https://agentfieldtrip.com/pieces/cma-97351.json · Image: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.974.b/1916.974.b_web.jpg