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Athena with Pegasus coin pendant
£55.00
Athena, goddess of intelligence, wisdom, and strategic thought. With the mythical winged horse Pegasus. Reproduction of a stater of the 'Pegasi' type, minted in Corinth and her western colonies Leucas and Ambracia during the first quarter of the 5th century BC. The appearance of the silver stater at Corinth was changed towards the end of the 6th century BC by the addition of a head of Athena with Corinthian helmet as a reverse design to join the Pegasus on the obverse. Pegasus, the mythical winged horse, whose name in Greek means 'strong', was the offspring of Poseidon and Medusa. He is often seen on the coinage of Corinth as he, according to myth, helped the Corinthian hero Bellerophon, to defeat the mighty Chimaera. Diameter: 2.3 cm
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about Pegasus
The mythical, winged, divine horse. His father was Poseidon, and he was born from the blood of the decapitated Medusa. After his birth, Pegasus flew to Mount Olympus where he placed himself at the disposal of Zeus, to whom he would bring thunderbolts.
Bellerophon, King of Corinth, managed to capture Pegasus, tamed him with a golden bridle given by Athena, and with his help, killed the fire-breathing Chimaera, who was threatening to destroy the city. Some of the coins minted in Corinth are called 'pegasi' and show Pegasus on one side, helmeted Athena on the other. Pegasus also features on coins from Syracuse, a Sicilian colony of Corinth.
Every time Pegasus' hoof touched the earth, a spring of fresh water appeared. The most famous one is the Hippocrene - 'horse spring' - on Mount Helicon, home of the Nine Muses.
Pegasus is regarded as a symbol of liberty, free spirit, inspiration, potential, and spiritual freedom. Eventually, Zeus transformed him into the constellation that bears his name.
about Athena
Athena, daughter of Zeus, was the goddess of intelligence, wisdom, resourcefulness and strategic thought. She was also the protectress of women and of female crafts such as weaving.
Zeus discovered that Metis, the goddess of intelligence, was pregnant with his child. Fearing that the child would be superior to him, he turned Metis into a fly, and swallowed her. Nine months later, Zeus had a terrible migraine, and summoned his son Hephaistos, who promptly took his axe, cut open Zeus' head, and out popped baby Athena. His brainchild. Fully formed in miniature, and armed for combat, with her helmet, shield, and spear. With her father, she later shared the aegis, the snake-fringed cloak with the image of the head of Medusa in its centre, after Athena had helped Jason to decapitate her.
Following a contest with her uncle, Poseidon, she became the patron goddess of Athens, to which she gave her name and the gift of the olive. Athena (also Athene) favoured the heroes Herakles, Jason, Achilles, Perseus and Odysseus, and was associated with Nike, the winged goddess of achievement and victory.
Her symbols are the owl and the olive.
more about this jewellery
It has been a privilege to work with the Vaphiadis family since 2007. They are one of the best manufacturers of sterling silver jewellery in Greece.
The collection is inspired by ancient Greek silver and gold coins, the art and jewellery of the Minoan civilisation, familiar symbolic motifs and images, and the animals that played a significant part in ancient Greek culture.
sad news about this collection
Due to the tragic, sudden death in early 2025 of Ioannis Vaphiadis, who made all this beautiful jewellery, the family's jewellery production has ceased.
This is all the remaining stock that I have. Ioannis was only in his late 50s, was such a lovely man and a dear friend.
I was so lucky to work closely with him for 19 years.If you already have a piece of his jewellery, cherish it.