Kamarina, Sicily
425-405 BC
Gorgon Head / Owl Holding Lizard
Composition: Bronze
Weight: 1.19g
Diameter: 11.9mm
Thickness: 1.5mm
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Kamarina, Sicily 425-405 BC Gorgon Head / Owl Holding Lizard Composition: Bronze Weight: 1.19g Diameter: 11.9mm Thickness: 1.5mm |
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This coin features the face of a Gorgon, an Owl holding a lizard with KAMA (Kamarina) to the left, and a barley kernel to the right of the lizard. A gorgon is a monster from Greek mythology with snake hair, and the power to turn anyone who looked at them to stone. Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa were Gorgon sisters. Medusa was slain by Perseus. He then gave the head of Medusa to Athena, which she wore on her aegis. |
Kamarina was an ancient Greek city founded by Syracuse in 599 BC. It is on the southern coast of Sicily. Kamarina rebelled against Syracuse shortly after it was founded, and again in 492 BC. It then allied with Athens against Syracuse in 427 BC. Kamarina later assisted Syracuse from 415 - 413 BC during the Athens military expedition into Sicily during the Peloponnesian War. The owl grasping the lizard with its talons could be representing the Athenian owl, and the Sicilian lizard. |