Supervisors info:
Όλγα Παλαγγιά, Ομότιμη Καθηγήτρια Κλασικής Αρχαιολογίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Δημήτρης Πλάντζος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής Κλασικής Αρχαιολογίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Σελήνη Ψωμά, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια Αρχαίας Ιστορίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας, Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Summary:
Statues are often depicted on architectural sculpture, vases and even on the coins of the ancient cities. On the 4th c. B.C. Panathenaic amphorae, the roosters on the columns surrounding the central figure of Athena, are replaced by statues on small scale. These statues are considered today as symbols chosen by the eponymous archons, responsible for the collection of the sacred oil during the 4th c. B.C. In their majority, these statues are contemporary to the amphorae, depicting gods and heroes of the city carrying maritime objects or symbols of victory. Very often is the presence of Triptolemus, driving his winged chariot, of Eleusinian goddesses, of the goddess Nike who brings the victory in war as well as in the games, and above all, of the greatest goddess of Athens, Athena. The amphorae, travelled through the trade of the sacred oil to all over the world, spreading the message of Athens. It was the city who spread with the help of Triptolemus the cultivation of the grain, the first to celebrate games for the gods, and most of all a sea power under the auspices of Athena. In the Hellenistic and Roman period, these statues are chosen by other magistrates, as the military treasurer or the agonothetes. In a similar way, statues as symbols of the two moneyers, are depicted on the reverse of the stephanephora, the new style tetradrachms of Athens, that were on circulation between 165 and 40 B.C. In the case of stephanephora, the small statues are the personal emblems mainly of the first moneyer. These magistrates were members of wealthy and powerful families of the town. A statue may now symbolize an important magistration possessed by an individual, family bonds, etc. The mint of Athens will reopen again after a long period, under the patronage of the emperor Hadrian during the 2nd c. A.D. The bronze coins of the imperial period often depicts on the reverse statues that decorated the city, reminding the glorious past. These are in their majority, statues constructed in the 5th and 4th c. B.C., by great sculptors such as Pheidias, Alcamenes and Euphranor. Athens of the 2nd and 3rd c. A.D. remained a cultural centre, visited by a multitude of people. Students and travelers came to Athens in order to study and admire its monuments and statues depicted on the coinage of this glorious city.
Keywords:
Athens, New style, stephanephora, panathenaic amphorae, Hadrian, roman coinage of Athens, sculpture, statues, coins
