Elephant Medallion

Demetrius I (c. 167-222 B.C.) was the Indo-Greek ruler of the kingdom of Bactria. His victories in India are highlighted on this coin through the symbolism of the elephant. The elephant was also a frequent emblem of wealth and achievement.

A bell hangs from the elephant's neck, echoing Hindu traditions where bell sounds are considered auspicious, welcoming divinity and dispelling evil. Elephants were first used in warfare by Indian and Persian armies. Greco-Macedonian troops encountered them during Alexander the Great's campaign, and later Hellenistic rulers continued to use them in battle, integrating the animal into Greco-Roman art.

The reverse of the coin is also significant. With his conquests in India, Demetrius gained control over vast stretches of the Silk Road, earning the epithet "the Unconquered" (aniketos). The depiction of the kerykeion, or caduceus, showed that power was in Demetrius' hands as it guaranteed sanctity to its possessor. This emblem, associated with the Greek god Hermes, signifies his role as a messenger and guide for souls to the Underworld. The intertwined snakes, a symbol of harmony, originate from a legend in which Hermes intervened in a fight between two snakes, causing them to entwine around his rod, symbolising the resolution of disputes. The inscription on the reverse, "ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ," translates to "of King Demetrius" or "belonging to King Demetrius."

• Coin Ø 30mm

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