Drachm of Alexander the Great of Macedonia c. 4th century

Curator: We're looking at a Drachm of Alexander the Great of Macedonia, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The worn silver lends a somber, almost ghostly quality to the depiction of power. Curator: Indeed. The imagery here—Herakles on one side, Zeus enthroned on the other—is potent. Herakles's lion skin headdress is a complex symbol of strength and divine lineage, frequently tied to Alexander himself. Editor: The figure of Zeus furthers that narrative, conferring not just power, but legitimacy. It’s a visual argument for Alexander’s rule, a claim on cultural memory. Curator: Certainly, the deliberate artistic choice to associate Alexander with such loaded iconography is striking. The relief, though worn with age, retains a clear structural integrity, conveying power through its carefully designed composition. Editor: It’s a fascinating look at how symbols are mobilized to cement authority. Curator: Precisely. It highlights how even on a small scale, art can project an enduring claim.