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On the obverse of this highly symbolic coin is the head of Arethousa, a local goddess of Syracuse who fled from mainland Greece and arose on the site as a freshwater fountain. Four dolphins swim around her, suggesting Syracuse’s humble beginnings as a small island colony. On the reverse, a racing four-horse chariot recalls Syracuse’s past victories in Panhellenic games.
Page data
- Page
- 1
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- photo
- Media ID
- 2801f635b2bd791a
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 97355
- Core
- obj
- Type
- object
DTO data
{
"id": "97355",
"contentType": "object",
"title": "Tetradrachm: Quadriga (obverse); Head of Arethousa (reverse)",
"description": "On the obverse of this highly symbolic coin is the head of Arethousa, a local goddess of Syracuse who fled from mainland Greece and arose on the site as a freshwater fountain. Four dolphins swim around her, suggesting Syracuse’s humble beginnings as a small island colony. On the reverse, a racing four-horse chariot recalls Syracuse’s past victories in Panhellenic games.",
"date": "c. 467–440 BCE",
"citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.976",
"rights": "CC0",
"rightsUri": "CC0",
"language": "en",
"wikidata": [
"Q79481597"
],
"genreSpecific": [
"Coins"
],
"iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.976/1916.976_web.jpg",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.976/1916.976_web.jpg",
"largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.976/1916.976_web.jpg",
"imageCount": 1,
"source": "import",
"dimensionsRaw": "Diameter: 2.5 cm (1 in.)",
"cul": [
"Greek, minted at Syracuse (Sicily)"
],
"accession": "1916.976"
}
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Document identity
{
"localId": "97355",
"label": "Tetradrachm: Quadriga (obverse); Head of Arethousa (reverse)",
"core": "obj",
"dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
"id": "97355",
"contentType": "object",
"title": "Tetradrachm: Quadriga (obverse); Head of Arethousa (reverse)",
"description": "On the obverse of this highly symbolic coin is the head of Arethousa, a local goddess of Syracuse who fled from mainland Greece and arose on the site as a freshwater fountain. Four dolphins swim around her, suggesting Syracuse’s humble beginnings as a small island colony. On the reverse, a racing four-horse chariot recalls Syracuse’s past victories in Panhellenic games.",
"date": "c. 467–440 BCE",
"citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.976",
"rights": "CC0",
"rightsUri": "CC0",
"language": "en",
"wikidata": [
"Q79481597"
],
"genreSpecific": [
"Coins"
],
"iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.976/1916.976_web.jpg",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.976/1916.976_web.jpg",
"largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.976/1916.976_web.jpg",
"imageCount": 1,
"source": "import",
"dimensionsRaw": "Diameter: 2.5 cm (1 in.)",
"cul": [
"Greek, minted at Syracuse (Sicily)"
],
"accession": "1916.976"
}
Document source extras
{
"tec": "silver",
"tombstone": "Tetradrachm: Quadriga (obverse); Head of Arethousa (reverse), c. 467–440 BCE. Greek, minted at Syracuse (Sicily). Silver; diameter: 2.5 cm (1 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of J. H. Wade, 1916.976",
"collection": "GR - Greek",
"inscriptions": [
{
"inscription": "ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ",
"inscription_translation": "Of the Syracusans",
"inscription_remark": "Reverse"
}
],
"didYouKnow": "Three dolphins and a bit of a fourth are still visible swimming clockwise around Arethousa.",
"url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.976",
"creditline": "Gift of J. H. Wade",
"updatedAt": "2026-05-29 05:14:51.054000",
"imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.976/1916.976_print.jpg",
"sourceId": 97355,
"dept": "Greek and Roman Art",
"coll": "GR - Greek",
"med": "silver",
"thumbnail_url": null,
"image_url": null
}
Page context
{
"seq": 1,
"pageIndex": 0,
"type": "photo",
"url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.976/1916.976_web.jpg",
"mediaId": "2801f635b2bd791a"
}