Silver Tetradrachm of Ptolemy I

Coinage offered an effective means of circulating political messages to a broad population. This silver tetradrachm was minted in Egypt under Ptolemy I Soter. The obverse shows a portrait of Alexander the Great with an elephant-scalp cap, horns of Ammon, and aegis; the reverse shows Athena with a shield, spear, eagle, and helmet. The elephant headdress refers to Alexander’s military victories in India and likens him to the Greek god Dionysos, who also celebrated an Indian triumph. The ram’s horns identify Alexander as the divine son of Zeus-Ammon, a syncretic combination of Greek and Egyptian gods. These symbols linked Alexander to both Greek and Egyptian divinity.

Ptolemy I was one of Alexander’s generals. He took over Egypt after Alexander’s death and founded his own kingdom that lasted until the death of Cleopatra. Alexander’s successors often used images of him as a way to link their rule with his and claim legitimacy. Ptolemy even went so far as to intercept Alexander’s body on its way home to Macedon and have it buried in Alexandria instead.

The downloadable files are in an .STL format which is optimal for 3D printing. We suggest using a free software such as Meshmixer to edit the file to your needs. Some objects may need supports added or should be hollowed out for the most efficient printing. Any questions about 3D printing should be directed to kelsey.disko.project@umich.edu.

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