The State Hermitage Museum: Exhibitions

Didrachm. Reverse: Poseidon with a dolphin

308 B.C.

Tenos, Cyclades Islands

Silver

Diameter - 22 mm; weight - 6.34 g

Poseidon, the ruler of the seas, could be as majestically calm as his element. That is how he is shown on this coin from the island of Tenos. Very often the god of the seas was depicted with a dolphin since a special relationship existed between them.

When Poseidon fell in love with the nymph Amphitrite and wanted to marry her, she sought refuge from his courtship with Atlas and no-one could find her. Only the dolphin managed it, not only revealing her hiding-place to Poseidon, but also managing things so skilfully that the proud nymph did not spurn the god and agreed to be his consort.

The grateful Poseidon placed the dolphin is the sky as a constellation and he himself was often depicted talking quietly with this creature.

View reverse of coin

Didrachm. Obverse: the head of Alexander the Great in the guise of the god Amon

308 B.C.

Tinos, Cyclades Islands

Silver

Diameter - 22 mm; weight - 6.34 g