Eracle nel documento monetale della Sicilia greca (secoli VI-IV a.C.)

Herakles is a civilizing hero par excellence, a symbol, in local traditions, of the opposition between culture and nature, between civilization and barbarism. Within ancient coinage – one of the most powerful forms of mass communication in antiquity – his appearance can be seen as the result of contacts, mediation, influences, or specific political choices. Starting from these considerations, in this paper we shall examine the ancient Greek issues of Sicily that adopted Hercules as coin type since the beginning of coinage in the island until Hellenism (6th-end of 4th century BC). Once properly dated, we will try to trace the messages, the political and cultural implications or the propaganda needs that may have motivated those choices.