Tetradrachm from Seleucia

A tetradrachm of Antiochus II from Seleucia. The front face shows the profile of a young man wearing a diadem, and the back face features Apollo sitting on the omphalos holding a bow and arrow. The back face has the text BAΣIΛEΩΣ on the right and ANTIOXOY on the left.

Antiochus II Theos was King of the Seleucid Empire in 261–246 BCE. Founded by Alexander the Great’s general Seleucos I Nicator, the Seleucids were a dynasty who ruled various parts of Persia and Syria over the next centuries. Legends were told about the founder of the dynasty that were similar to those of Alexander the Great, but the founder’s divine father was Apollo instead of Zeus. Later, the Seleucid dynasty thought they were descended from the god, which is why he was on the back of the coin.

The omphalos, on which Apollo is sitting, was a sacred stone considered to be the centre of the world, located in Delphi. The portrait on the front is possibly of Antiochus II’s father Antiochus I, but this is not certain.