Tetradrachm of Philip I Philadelphos of Syria, Antioch 89 BCE-83 BCE

Curator: Up next, we have a tetradrachm of Philip I Philadelphos of Syria. It comes from Antioch and is currently part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Immediately, I notice the contrast between the refined portrait on one side and the more static figure on the other. It feels almost like two different worlds colliding. Curator: Yes, the portrait bears the weight of Hellenistic idealism, but on the reverse, we see the seated figure, likely representing a deity or symbolic representation of power, referencing older traditions. The curls, especially, seem full of youthful pride, don't they? Editor: The figure on the reverse looks so serious, almost sad. Maybe it's just seen the portrait side too many times! It is a reminder of the constant negotiation between the old and new. Curator: Indeed. Even in such a small object, we witness an echo of cultural memory, a dialogue between inherited symbols and contemporary expressions of authority. Editor: It makes me consider how much we project onto these ancient images, longing to connect to a past that's both familiar and utterly lost.