The designation and depiction of Alexander the Great as “Two-Horned” goes back to the close connection between the Macedonian king and the syncretic god Zeus-Ammon. After Alexander’s journey to the Ammon Temple in the Egyptian oasis of Sīwa, Alexander is said to have been declared the son of Ammon (cf. Callisthenes, FGrH 124, F14a, Jacoby = Strabon, XVII 1, 43 and Pseudo-Callisthenes). Although this relationship between Alexander and Ammon was only widely received in late antiquity through the influential Alexander novel (see Historia Alexandri Magni (Recensio β, e cod. Leidensi Vulc. 93), 2.39.10-13, Historia Alexandri Magni (Recensio vetusta), 1.12), depictions of Alexander with Ammon’s ram horns can already be found on some early Hellenistic coin types. In addition to an early Ptolemaic coin type that represents Alexander with Ammon horns and an elephant helmet (see Dahmen 2007: 112-116, Lorber 2012: 211-212 ), the tetradrachm of Lysimachus (360-281 BC) shown here is probably the one The most famous coin depicting Alexander with horns. This type of coin was in use in Thrace and Asia Minor until the 2nd and 1st centuries. century B.C. It circulated around the 1st century BC and was often imitated in Central Europe (in Celtic coinage). However, this type was probably not very widespread in the eastern Mediterranean and was replaced relatively quickly by other types. In this context, it is noteworthy that some cities in the Roman provinces of Palestine and Arabia (e.g. Capitolias, Gerasa), which viewed Alexander as their “ancestor” (Gr. γενάρχης) or “founder” (Gr. κτίστης), continued to live until the 3rd century . Century AD minted coins with a depiction of Alexander (see Dahmen 2007: 28-30, 130-133 ).
Early Ptolemaic coin type that represents Alexander with Ammon horns and an elephant helmet:
some cities in the Roman provinces of Palestine and Arabia (e.g. Capitolias, Gerasa), which viewed Alexander as their “ancestor” (Gr. γενάρχης) or “founder” (Gr. κτίστης), continued to live until the 3rd century Century AD minted coins with a depiction of Alexander:
