It can be difficult being the mother of a famous and well-known hero as intentions are always in question when anything occurs, especially death. Also being a strong woman with aspirations can also put a bullseye on your back. That is the case for our next spotlight on one of the 100 Greatest Women On Coins as featured by Whitman Publishing. With help from author Ron Guth, we will take a closer look at a top 80 pick that featured a mother suspected of elevating her son to the top with some not so admirable deeds.
#78 - Queen Olympias
Born Polyxena around 375 BC to the king of the Molossians (part of what is now modern-day Greece), Neoptolemus, she would later change her name to Myrtale. This change would allegedly be due in part to cult initiation. Arranged by her uncle, Arymbas, she would marry King Philip II. Her uncle would offer her in marriage as he sought an alliance between the Molossians and the Macedonians. Myrtale would later receive the name Olympias after Philip would claim victory in the Olympic games in 356 BC.
Later on in that year, she would give birth to her son, Alexander (the Great). They would also have a daughter named Cleopatra. In 336 BC, Cleopatra would get married but there was more to that event that occurred than holy matrimony. Philip, Olympia’s husband, would end up being assassinated by his own bodyguard. However, Olympia and Philip were estranged at the time and she would be suspected of plotting his death. It would also be assumed that her involvement was in large part to help her son rise in the ranks.
A hoard of gold medallions and coins were found in Aboukir, Egypt, in 1902. Five of the medallions featured Olympias, one of which depicted her head veiled facing left with a scepter in her right hand. The reverse of the medallion features Nereid, a sea nymph. The sea nymph is riding a hippocampus which is a mythological creature. Another one of the medallions features Olympias facing right without a scepter with the Nereid on the reverse riding a sea centaur who is holding a trident over his shoulder. It is thought that these medallions were used as prizes or gifts for top officials in Olympic games.
Olympias also can be found on smaller medals that feature Alexander on the reverse. Another medal features her reclined in bed with a snake as she was a part of the cult of Dionysus whose symbols include bulls and serpents. This led famous Greek historian Plutarch to claim that Olympias slept with snakes as part of her cult rites.
Collecting difficulty is just that, difficult. Coins or medals featuring Olympias are rare, according to Guth.