Greek Lysimachos Tetradrachm with the Portrait of Alexander the Great, Lampsakos mint, C. 297 - 281 BC

The obverse shows the now deified King, Alexander the Great. He is shown in the finest Hellenistic style; facing right, his wild, unruly hair held down by a thin diadem, the horn of Ammon curling over his ear, clearly identifying him as Alexander.  The reverse with the goddess Athena enthroned left, holding Nike in her extended right hand, resting her left elbow on a shield with lion headed aegis. The legend reading: BASILEOS LUSIMACOU “Of King Lysimachos.” Crescent and monogram between legend and Athena. Worth $80,000.

Lysimachos (Lysimachus) c. 360 – 281 BC) was a Macedonian officer and diadochus (i.e. “successor”) of Alexander the Great, who became a basileus (“King”) in 306 BC, ruling Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon.

[ Map of Lampsakos ]

Roman Black Marble Bust of Alexander the Great, Roman Imperial, 1st Century AD

Many portraits of Alexander the Great created after his lifetime, like this splendid example, tended to follow the models created by his appointed court sculptor, Lysippos. Features of the grey marble head, such as the slight turn of the head, prominent brow, accentuated and deep set eyes, and long, thick locks of leonine hair, are all hallmarks of Alexander’s image.

Hellenistic Alexander the Great Cameo Necklace, 2nd-1st Century BC

Made of gold, cameo glass, glass, amethyst, rock crystal and garnet

Get the fuck out of town!

Very Rare Coin Issued By Alexander the Great’s Uncle

This excessively rare Greek silver stater was struck circa 334-330 BC at Tarentum (map) under Alexander I the Molossian, King of Epiros (r. 350-330 BC). Alexander I was the brother of Alexander III (the Great’s) mother, Olympias. This coin is possibly the work of the great Tarentine engraver Kal. The obverse shows Zeus Dodonaios wearing an oak wreath. The reverse has the inscription ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟ[Υ] / ΤΟΥ ΝΕΟΠΤΟΛΕ[ΜΟΥ] and a thunderbolt with an eagle to the left.

Alexander the Molossian was not only the King of Epeiros but also, through his sister Olympias, the brother-in-law of Philip II of Macedon and the uncle of Alexander III. At the same time his nephew was beginning his epic march to the East, he was called in by the Greek city of Tarentum to save it from the pressure of the aggressive Lucanians and Bruttians. He arrived with an army in 334 BC and was initially successful; he was, however, killed in a minor engagement in 330 BC. This coin was issued in Tarentum to pay his Epeirote troops. It was struck in the Corcyran standard since they preferred the non-Italic weight standard. The artistry is absolutely superb: the head of Zeus is immediately reminiscent of the contemporary issues of Olympias and of Philip II.

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All right, so, a few things: massive possibly trigger warning. Talking about violence, murder, possibly rape, and just general uncomfortable situations. EDIT: to the smartasses who are reblogging my post, thinking they’re clever for pointing out that history is violent: I know. We all know. The trigger warning was for the possibility of triggering reenanctments in the documentaries themselves. Please take your observations somewhere else. EDIT: oh god, why are so many people reblogging this post? D: please stop…