Greek Sword, from the Arms of All Nations series (N3) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small lithograph, titled "Greek Sword," was part of a series made to be included in Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, out of Richmond, Virginia. The series, "Arms of All Nations," reflects late 19th-century America's fascination with the wider world. This fascination was, of course, shaped by the country’s position as an emerging global power, and the marketing of exotic cultures helped to fuel American expansionism. Here, the figure of the Greek soldier, frozen in profile with shield and sword in hand, serves as a signifier of a glorious past. The classical aesthetic, with its emphasis on idealized masculinity, was often appropriated to bolster notions of Western superiority. Yet, as we contemplate this image today, we might consider the cost of such valor, especially when deployed in the service of commerce, cultural appropriation, and a complicated brand of nationalism. How might we re-imagine heroism beyond the battlefield?