God of the sun HELIOS ancient coin copy Pendant Sterling silver 925

Ancient Greek Design 20mm Pendant Silver 925 including chain 40cm

Handmade jewelry to be worn and enjoyed for a lifetime
The obverse with a dazzling facing head portrait of the famous patron of the City of Rhodes, Helios. He is shown with wind blown hair, framing a plump face and wearing a radiate crown. This coin also demonstrates another delightful tradition of Greek design coinage, offering a visual pun on the city name, Rodos. hence on the reverse we see a blossoming rose, an emblem of the great city. The Greek word for rose is the similar sounding rhodon. Helios is the personification of the Sun in Greek mythology. Helios was described as a handsome titan crowned with the shining aureole of the Sun, who drove the chariot of the sun across the sky each day to earth-circling Oceanus and through the world-ocean returned to the East at night. In Greek Mythology the name of the island derives from the nymph  Rhodes who bore seven sons to the sun god Helios. In honor of Helios, Panhellenic games, the Halieia, were held on the island every five years, and each year a chariot  and four horses (quadriga) were thrown into the sea as an offering to the god (who was believed to ride such a chariot across the sky each day). Demetrius I of Macedon attempted to take the island in c. 305 BCE but was ultimately unsuccessful after a year-long siege. The entrepreneurial Rhodians sold Demetrius’ siege equipment and used the proceeds to build a massive 32 meter high bronze statue of their patron god Helios the Colossus of Rhodes and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The statue, sculpted by Chares, a native of the island from Lindus, stood at the harbor entrance but was unfortunately toppled by an earthquake in 228 or 226 BCE.

Filled with symbols and meanings, ancient Greek coins are some of the first coins ever minted, and feature legendary Gods, Heroes, classical art, and unique, subtle details that celebrate the civilization that still impacts us every day. Browse our collection of Ancient Greek coin jewelry and meet Alexander the Great, Athena and her Owl of Wisdom, Hercules and the Lion, the Boy on the Dolphin, Zeus, Helios and more. Ancient Art Greek jewelry direct from our workshop in Athens

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