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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"
}

Context sent to Scholar

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"
}