Shekel (Coin) Depicting the God Melkarth
Ancient Greek
-31–-30
- Medium
- Silver
- Dimensions
- Diam.: 2.6 cm (1 1/16 in.)
- Genre
- coin
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Styles
Tags
silvercoinphoenicianinorganic materialancient artnonferrous metaldeitiesmythological figuresancientmetal
About
The front of this coin depicts the god Melkarth (also spelled Melkart, Melqart), the Tyrian version of the Greek hero Herakles, wearing a crown of laurels. On the back an eagle stands facing left, a palm branch visible over its right wing. The inscription translates to "of Tyre the holy and inviolable."
