Tetradachm of Seleukos I, Seleukeia-on-the-Tigris, second workshop c. 296

Editor: This is the Tetradrachm of Seleukos I from Seleukeia-on-the-Tigris. It's really interesting to see Seleukos's portrait paired with what seems to be a war elephant on the reverse. What do you make of the imagery here? Curator: Indeed, the elephant is not merely an exotic animal, but a symbol of Seleukos’s victories in India and his claim to Alexander the Great’s legacy. The image evokes power, strength, and the vast reach of his empire, doesn't it? Editor: It does. So, it's less about just showing an elephant and more about conveying Seleukos's dominion? Curator: Precisely. The elephant becomes a potent visual shorthand, communicating Seleukos's ambition and the cultural memory of Alexander’s conquests. It's fascinating how a single image can carry so much cultural and political weight. Editor: I never thought about the elephant that way. It's like Seleukos is visually tying himself to Alexander. Curator: Exactly. These symbols create a visual language of power and legitimacy, a language understood by those who used and traded this coin. Editor: It is fascinating how imagery embeds such history. I’ll certainly view similar works through a new lens.