432 - Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, based on models from antiquity – early 20th century

Tetradrachm of Alexander the Great, based on models from antiquity – early 20th century A sculptural plaque made of yellow Sienese marble reproduces, on a large scale and in a decorative format, the tetradrachm of Lysimachus, minted after the death of Alexander the Great, toward the end of the 4th and beginning of the 3rd centuries BC. The composition evokes the style of Greek coinage, depicting Alexander in profile with the horns of Ammon. During his conquest of Egypt, Alexander visited the famous oracle of Ammon at the Siwa Oasis. There, according to ancient traditions, he was recognized as the son of Ammon; the Greeks identified Ammon with Zeus, hence the name Zeus-Amun. The British Museum also holds Ptolemaic coins on which Alexander appears with the horn of Zeus-Amun, demonstrating the widespread subsequent use of this iconographic type. The piece belongs to the tradition of reviving classical models, a trend that flourished in Italy between the 19th and 20th centuries. These reproductions, made of marble and intended as cabinet pieces, reflected an interest in archaeology, collecting, and the material culture of Antiquity, extending the taste for classical objects popularized by the Grand Tour. It has been restored. Dimensions: 55 × 4 × 4 cm.