Coin of of Syracuse under Pyrrhos c. 278

Editor: Here we have a coin of Syracuse under Pyrrhos. It's quite small and unassuming, but the level of detail is impressive. What can you tell me about this artifact? Curator: This coin speaks volumes about power, representation, and cultural exchange in the ancient world. Pyrrhos's image on a Syracusan coin reveals not only his military aspirations but also the strategies he used to legitimize his rule in a foreign land. Editor: So, it's about more than just currency? Curator: Absolutely. It's about the visual language of authority and how leaders constructed their image to influence populations. How does this coin challenge our understanding of the relationships between colonizer and colonized, representation and power? Editor: I hadn't thought of it in those terms. It makes me wonder how the Syracusans viewed this portrayal of Pyrrhos. Curator: Exactly! Whose narrative does this coin prioritize, and whose does it erase?