ALEXANDER THE GREAT
FROM MACEDONIA TO THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
THE ALPHA BANK NUMISMATIC COLLECTION
Exhibition at the Archaeological Museum of Ioannina
May 7, 2010 – October 31, 2010
The exhibition “ALEXANDER THE GREAT: FROM MACEDONIA TO THE EDGE OF
THE WORLD” opened on Friday, May 7, 2010. It is jointly organised by Alpha Bank
and the 12th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities at the Archaeological
Museum of Ioannina. The exhibition, which refers to the history of Alexander the Great
through his coinage and its effect on the ancient world even after his death, presents
220 gold, silver and bronze coins which belong to the Alpha Bank Numismatic
Collection.
In order to provide a better understanding and documentation of the numismatic types
and the history of Alexander the Great, the exhibition will be accompanied by a section
dedicated to the weapons of the Macedonians. Along with the “Phrygian” type helmet
from Vitsa at Zagori, which constitutes one of the most important exhibits of the
Archaeological Museum of Ioannina, part of a Macedonian shield from the 27th
Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities (Dion at Pieria) will be displayed, as
well as parts of a sarissa from the 17th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical
Antiquities (Ancient Aigai). A marble portrait head of Alexander from the 7th Ephorate
of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities (Ancient Olympia) will also be presented in the
context of the exhibition.
The exhibition is organised by Dr Dimitra Tsangari, Curator of the Alpha Bank
Numismatic Collection and Mr. Konstantinos Zachos, Ephor of Antiquities and
Director of the Archaeological Museum of Ioannina. Mr. Stamatis Zannos is
responsible for the architectural and exhibition design.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
FROM MACEDONIA TO THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
The exhibition is divided in eight sections:
The first section, “Weapons of the Macedonians”, presents the typical weapons of
the Macedonians i.e. the helmet, the shield and the sarissa, which apart from the
sarissa, can also be found as iconographic types on certain Macedonian coins.
The second section bears the title “Macedonia until the time of Philip II”. It presents
the regional numismatic history until then. The indigenous peoples and the colonies,
as well as the so-called “Thraco-macedonian” tribes issue the first coins in the
region, while the royal coinage is inaugurated from the beginning of the 5th century
BC.
The third section, entitled “Philip II”, highlights the coinage of the father of Alexander
the Great, who introduced new types to Macedonian coinage: the head of Olympian
Zeus as Panhellenic, to suggest the establishment of the Panhellenic Union which
was achieved by the assertive king, and the young rider athlete which refers to his
victorious participation in the 356 BC Olympic Games. Meanwhile, Philip II is the first
king to adopt bimetallism by issuing gold and silver coins at the same time.
The fourth section, “Alexander III, the Great”, presents his personal coinage which
began when he issued a, rare today, series of silver staters bearing the head of Zeus
and the eagle, along with thematically similar denominations. Soon after, when he
seized the massive amounts of gold and silver of the Persians, Alexander minted
new coins in large numbers, thus creating the conditions towards a unified
numismatic policy, previously unheard of in the region around the Mediterranean
basin and the Asiatic hinterland.
The fifth section entitled “The Successors and the Hellenistic kingdoms” follows with
the coins of the Successors, who, in order to assert the legitimacy of the succession
process, issued Alexandrian-type coins, inscribing, however, their own names on
them.
“Alexandrian coins: Posthumous issues” is the title of the sixth section, which
displays the Alexandrian tetradrachms issued by various cities for two centuries after
Alexander’s death, from Macedonia to Babylon and Egypt.
The seventh section “The imitations of the Alexandrian tetradrachms” presents the
coins of the Celts and those of the inhabitants of Arabia, which imitate the
Alexandrian tetradrachms.
The exhibition closes with the coins depicting the portrait of Alexander the Great.
The head of Alexander the Great on the tetradrachms of Lysimachus stands out
among them. The marble portrait head of Alexander from Olympia is displayed
adjacent to this section.
The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue - album in Greek and
English.
Guided tours will be offered during the exhibition by prior arrangement.
Archaeological Museum of Ioannina
6, 25th Martiou Square
Tel: 0030 265 100 1050, Telefax: 0030 265 100 1052
Opening Hours:
Monday:
13:30 - 20:00
Tuesday - Sunday: 8:00 - 20:00
It is advisable to confirm the opening hours prior to visiting.
For further information please contact:
12th Ephorate of Prehistoric and
Classical Antiquities
Archaeological Museum of Ioannina
Ioulia Katsadima
Department Head of Museums,
Exhibitions and Educational Programmes
Τel.:
0030 265 100 1075
Telefax: 0030 265 100 1052
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.amio.gr
Alpha Bank
Numismatic Collection
Dimitra Ι. Tsangari
Curator
Numismatic Collection
Tel:
0030 210 326 2460
Telefax: 0030 210 326 2462
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.alphanumismatics.gr
Contact persons
12th Ephorate of Prehistoric and
Classical Antiquities
Archaeological Museum of Ioannina
Ioulia Katsadima
Eleni Vasileiou
Τel.:
0030 265 100 1075, 265 100 1078
Telefax: 0030 265 100 1052
E-mail: [email protected]
Αlpha Bank
Public Relations
Alexia Grigoratou
Tel.:
0030 210 326 2449
Telefax: 0030 210 326 2439
E-mail: [email protected]
Athens, May 10, 2010