Kings of Macedon. Lampsakos. Alexander III "the Great" 336-323 BC.
Drachm AR

18 mm, 4,38 g

Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ; Zeus seated left on low throne, right leg drawn back, holding long scepter in his left hand and, in his right, eagle standing right with closed wings; forepart of Pegasos left in left field, Artemis with torch, advancing left below throne.

Extremely Fine

Price 215.

Herakles, also known by his Roman name Hercules, is one of the most famous heroes in Greek mythology. He was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Alcmene, a mortal woman. Due to Zeus's infidelity, Herakles was despised by Hera, Zeus's wife, who made it her life's mission to torment him. Despite this, Herakles grew into a man of incredible strength and bravery, known for his courage and endurance. Herakles is most famous for the Twelve Labors, a series of seemingly impossible tasks he was forced to undertake as a form of penance for killing his wife, Megara, and their children in a fit of madness sent by Hera. These labors included slaying the Nemean Lion, capturing the Golden Hind of Artemis, obtaining the girdle of Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons, and bringing back the golden apples of the Hesperides. Each labor required Herakles to face extraordinary challenges, often involving dangerous beasts, powerful enemies, or gods and goddesses who sought to impede his progress. Throughout these tasks, Herakles demonstrated not only his physical strength but also his intelligence and cunning. His completion of the Twelve Labors earned him immortality, and after his death, he was granted a place among the gods on Mount Olympus. Herakles became a symbol of strength, perseverance, and resilience, embodying the ideals of heroism in Greek culture. He was worshipped as a god and served as a model for later heroes, with his legends enduring through the centuries in both literature and art.