The development of the iconography of Achilles on Greek and Roman Provincial coinages

The representation of heroes on coins is quite common throughout the Greek world and it continues in some Roman provincial issues. Most of them are Homeric characters, some of them are less known local heroes. Not all of them are undoubtedly recognizable thanks to the coin inscription, but the knowledge of local myths and, above all, the observation of the various attributes of each character, such as helmets, clothing, weapons and other symbols, can help to identify them. In this study, I intend to analyze the monetary image of Achilles in the coinages of the Mediterranean area in the Greek and Roman ages and to identify the possible reasons for this iconographic choice linked to the mythological past, trying to find the contingent motivation for each case examined, with particular attention to the mints of Thessaly, beginning with Pharsalos, Larissa, Peuma and the Thessalian League.