4472) “The Wrath of Achilles, The Abduction of Briseis", "Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία) of Greece: The Bank of Greece (BOG) has issued a 100€ (One Hundred Euro) Gold Proof Coin depicting this famous scene from Homer's Iliad: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2026:
The Greeks had an eventful and tumultuous history, littered with wars, foreign invasions and conquests, until they founded the modern Greek state in the 19th century. They managed to navigate these turbulent waters, maintain their language and survive as a nation over the millennia because they have always prized military valour, one of the cardinal virtues of a Greek across time. No wonder, Greek history is full of examples of heroism and glory.
Greek, and admittedly all of European, literature starts with Homer’s Iliad, an epic almost 16 thousand verses long that celebrates the “glorious deeds of heroes”.
The plot gets rolling with a quarrel between the Greek commander-in-chief in the Trojan War, Agamemnon, and his most formidable fighter, Achilles, who was raised on the precept “always to be the bravest and to surpass all others”. Achilles’ wrath is the first theme in our new series of gold coins dedicated to Homer’s Iliad.
The Wrath of Achilles:
Hercules, the greatest Greek hero, is the theme of a new series of collector silver coins dedicated to The labours of Hercules, to be issued in puzzle coin sets.
The series starts with three coins that piece together to tell the story of the first three labours: the killing of the Nemean lion and the Lernaean Hydra and the capture of the Ceryneian hind.
Heinrich Schliemann, polyglot, millionaire, adventurer and visionary, made it the purpose of his life to prove that Homer’s world had indeed existed. One hundred and fifty years ago, after unearthing Troy, he began excavations at Mycenae. The most spectacular among his finds was the “Mask of Agamemnon”, as Schliemann named it, believing to have found the grave of the legendary king. This exquisite artifact is depicted on this year’s coin in our Cultural heritage series.
The 1820s, the decade when the Greeks fought for and won their independence, abounds in acts of heroism, glory, and often sacrifice. An unparalleled example is the Exodus of Messolonghi, to which we dedicate both a silver collector and a 2-euro circulation coin to mark the bicentennial of the event.
200 Years from the Exodus of Messolonghi:
Together we honour with a silver coin the Swiss philhellene Johann Jakob Meyer, father of Greek journalism, who was killed during the Exodus (Philhellenes series). Memories of the heroic last stand of the defenders of the Sacred City of Messolonghi haunt the region of Aetolia-Acarnania this year’s theme of our Tourism series.
Ioannis Kapodistrias, who is portrayed on our most precious coin in this year’s programme, was a diplomat of international renown who helped the Greek Revolution in its vulnerable first phase and later made the first serious state-building effort as Governor of Greece.
Like every war, the Greek Revolution produced not only heroes, but also victims among the civilian population, including refugees.
To these people we turn ourattention with a silver coin dedicated to 200 hundred years from the naming of Hermoupolis. Built on the island of Syros by refugees from several places devastated by the Turks, the new city thrived thanks to commerce and industry, becoming the gem of the Cyclades.
Turning to our long-standing series, we are issuing silver coins that feature Aristarchos of Samos, the first proponent of the heliocentric theory (in the Mathematicians series), and the hydraulis of Ktesibios, the first ever keyboard instrument (in our Ancient Greek technology series).
Link to post on Aristarchos on this Blog:
Next in our Endangered fauna of Greece series is the Milos viper (Macrovipera schweizeri), the most threatened reptile species in Greece.
One of the best known animal fables is the Lion and the mouse, which features on this year’s coin in our Aesop’s fables series.
We are also launching a new series dedicated to the lighthouses of Greece, starting with the Tourlitis lighthouse of Andros.
Finally, we celebrate important anniversaries by a silver coin commemorating 150 years from the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell and a 2-euro circulation coin to mark 100 years from the foundation of the Academy of Athens, guardian of the Greek language and culture.
I will keep on adding the links to my posts of the Greek Coinage this year to keep the visitors abreast with the stories.
ACHILLES’ WRATH – THE ABDUCTION OF BRISEIS:
Achilles’ “dreadful wrath that caused infinite woes to the Greeks” forms the central theme of the Iliad.
It is sparked by a quarrel between the Greek commander-in-chief in the Trojan War, Agamemnon, and his most formidable fighter, Achilles.
Agamemnon has been presented by the Greek army with a captive girl, Chryseis, as a prize of honour.
After Agamemnon rudely dismisses her father Chryses, a priest of Apollo, who tries to ransom her back, Apollo sends a plague to the Greek camp.
Agamemnon is forced to give up Chryseis, seizing instead Achilles’ own prize, Briseis.
Furious at this insult, Achilles, stopped by the goddess Athena short of killing Agamemnon, withdraws from battle.
He even pleads with his mother, the sea nymph Thetis, to ask Zeus to punish the Greeks.
Zeus agrees to turn the tide of war against the Greeks until Achilles’ honour is restored, thus setting in motion the dramatic events to follow.
In Homer’s Iliad:
Book 1: Agamemnon is forced to return his prize, Chryseis, to stop Apollo’s plague.
To assert his authority, he seizes Briseis, Achilles’ prize of honour.
Achilles, enraged, nearly kills Agamemnon but is restrained by Athena.
He withdraws from battle and asks his mother, Thetis, to petition Zeus to punish the Greeks.
This quarrel sets the stage for the epic’s central theme: Achilles’ wrath that brought countless woes upon the Achaeans.
A key line from Book 1 (in Richmond Lattimore’s translation) captures the insult:
“Agamemnon dishonoured Achilles, taking away his prize, Briseis of the fair cheeks.”
The Gold Coin:
The Obverse of the 100 Euro Gold Proof Coin shows an angry Achilles standing with his shield bearing the flying horse "Pegasus" design and in his battle armour. The year of issue "2026" figures at left behind Achilles's image.
The Emblem of Greece is in the right lower half of the coin.
The Emblem of Greece, (or the Coat of Arms), features a white cross on a blue shield surrounded by two laurel branches, symbolising Christianity and victory. Its current form was officially adopted in 1975 after the establishment of the Third Hellenic Republic.
Design and Symbolism:
Shield: Blue background with a white cross, representing the Greek flag and the Christian faith.
Laurel branches: Traditionally green, but often depicted in monochrome blue for official use. Gold laurel leaves are used in military insignia and on the presidential standard.
Cross: Symbolises the role of Christianity in Greek identity and independence.
The specifications of this Coin are:
DENOMINATION: 100€ (One Hundred Euro)
DIAMETER: 17.50 mm
WEIGHT: 3.89 gr
EDGE: Plain
Metal Composition/MATERIAL:
PACKAGING: Wooden box with Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
MAXIMUM ISSUE: 1,200 pieces
MINTING QUALITY: Proof (P)
DESIGNER: L. Pavli.
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
13) Ancient Greek Theatres, Greece: Hellenic Post has brought out a set of five stamps featuring the Ancient Theatres of Dodona, Nocopolis, Kassope, Amvrakia and Gitana (all in Epirus): Stamp issue date: 08.04.2020
14) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the Plague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
Other interesting posts on Greek Coinage and Commemorative Coins:
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
13) Ancient Greek Theatres, Greece: Hellenic Post has brought out a set of five stamps featuring the Ancient Theatres of Dodona, Nocopolis, Kassope, Amvrakia and Gitana (all in Epirus): Stamp issue date: 08.04.2020
14) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the Plague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"A very interesting Post. Thanks for sharing."
Thank you so much, Khanna sahab.
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