Trident/Poseidon, Silver Ring, Hieron II Bronze Coin, 8005

Description: Sicily, Syracuse. Hieron II, AE24 (275-216 BCE)

Obverse: Head of Poseidon left, wearing a taenia (headband).

Reverse:  ΕΡΩΝΟΣ, trident head with scroll decorations between prongs; lotiform shaft, flanked by dolphins.

History: Hieron II, a former general of Pyrrhus of Epirus, became the ruler of Syracuse around 270 BCE. He was a skilled military leader and strategist, securing his position as king after a successful campaign against the Mamertines. During the First Punic War (264-241 BCE), he initially sided with Carthage but later allied with Rome, a loyalty he maintained until his death in 215. His reign was marked by stability, economic prosperity, and advancements in military engineering, largely credited to his association with the famous mathematician Archimedes.

This bronze coin depicts Poseidon, the god of the sea and earthquakes, which emphasizes Syracuse’s maritime power. Poseidon was one of the twelve Olympian gods in ancient Greek mythology and brother to Zeus and Hades. His headband reflects divine status. With him, on the reverse, is his trident. This, along with the dolphins in the back, reinforce the city’s connection to the sea, for defense and trade. The inscription is the genitive form of Hieron, meaning “of Hieron”.