Description:
The ancient city of Apollonia, located in modern-day Bulgaria, was founded in the 7th century BC on the western banks of the Black Sea by Greek colonists from Miletos. The town established itself as a trade and naval center in the following centuries, becoming one of the largest and richest Greek colonies in the Black Sea region. Apollonia maintained strong political and trade relations with the cities and islands of ancient Greece and boasted a famous colossal statue of the Greek god Apollo, which stood 60ft high. Another symbol of the town was the anchor, shown on the reverse of this 5th century BC coin alongside a crayfish, proudly displaying their importance as a maritime trade center.
The facing head of a Gorgon with serpents for hair is featured on the obverse side of this coin. In classical antiquity and today, the Gorgon finds expression in the evil-averting device, known as the Gorgoneion. Greek folklore depicts three Gorgon sisters: Stheno and Euryale who were immortal and the third sister, Medusa, who was mortal. Medusa was a terrifying dragon-like creature that lived on the farthest side of the western sea, shunned because her glance turned people to stone. The Hero Perseus volunteered to kill Medusa and bring back her head, which he used as a weapon, until giving it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield.
For the Greeks, the Gorgon image was believed to ward off evil spirits as well as your enemies. Even Alexander the Great had an image of a Gorgon on his breastplate for battle.
