Greek; minted in Knossos, Crete
Drachm (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Hera
INV-5741
Greek; minted in Knossos, Crete350-220 BCE
Drachm (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Hera
Greek; minted in Knossos, Crete →cretanancientgreekcoinancient art
Date
350-220 BCE
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 1.9 cm (3/4 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Martin A. Ryerson
The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the head of the goddess Hera facing left. The back (reverse) depicts a square labyrinth.
The city of Knossos drew its civic icon from the myth of the Minotaur. The monster, born to the queen of Crete, was hidden away in a labyrinth, or maze. Yearly he devoured youths and maidens until, with the help of a ball of string, the hero Theseus made his way to the center of the labyrinth. There he killed the Minotaur and used the string to find his way out of the maze. The story was so famous that anyone seeing the labyrinth on this coin knew that Knossos was its source.
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