Obverse: Chimaera Walking Left.
Reverse: Dove Flying, symbol of peace, purity, and the goddess Aphrodite
Legend: Chimaera, A mythological monster with the body of a lion, the head of a goat rising from its back, and a serpent’s tail.
The Chimaera, on the other hand, represents the power of heroism over chaos. According to myth, the Chimaera was a fearsome creature slain by Bellerophon, a hero who rode the winged horse Pegasus.
The presence of the Chimaera on Sikyon’s coins may allude to courage, victory, and divine favor, virtues the city admired and wished to associate itself with.
This pairing — the peaceful dove and the ferocious Chimaera forms a striking duality:
- The dove embodies peace and divine grace.
- The Chimaera evokes strength and defense against adversity.
Together, they reflect Sikyon’s balance between art and power, between serenity and valor — a harmony central to its identity in the Peloponnesos during a time of shifting alliances between Macedon, Sparta, and the Achaean League.
- Composition: Silver
- Denomination: Drachm
- Date: ca.330-280 BC.
- Mint: Sikyon, in the Peloponnesos (southern Greece)
