Ancient Greek Pontus Used Medusa Coins Against Rome

by · Greek City Times

A new study reveals how the ancient Kingdom of Pontus used Medusa imagery on coins to intimidate enemies and promote King Mithradates VI’s resistance to Roman expansion.

Ancient Greek rulers used images of Medusa to communicate military strength and intimidate their enemies more than 2,000 years ago, according to new research examining coins issued by the Kingdom of Pontus.

The study, conducted by researcher Şengül Dilek Ful of Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, examines how depictions of Medusa became part of the kingdom’s political messaging during the reign of Mithradates VI, who ruled from approximately 120 to 63 BC.

Published in the Journal of Literature and Humanities, the research argues that the imagery was deliberately used to project power, influence public perceptions and reinforce Mithradates VI’s campaign against Roman expansion in Anatolia.

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The coins presented Medusa as more than a figure from Greek mythology, turning her image into a symbol of intimidation, protection and anticipated victory.

Medusa became a symbol of power on Pontic coins

Ful examined coins minted at Kabeira, Komana and Taulara, ancient settlements in the Pontic region corresponding to parts of modern-day Tokat province in northern Turkey.

Dating from 120 to 63 BC, the coins featured several mythological scenes associated with Medusa and the hero Perseus.

One design depicted the goddess Athena wearing a helmet alongside Perseus holding the severed head of Medusa.

Other examples showed Medusa’s face displayed on a shield or protective garment, with Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, appearing on the reverse.

Some coins also depicted Medusa’s lifeless body behind Perseus.

According to the research, these images carried a deliberate political message, presenting the defeat of a seemingly powerful enemy as a symbol of the victories Mithradates VI sought against Rome.

The study describes the imagery as a means to intimidate opponents while reinforcing the prospect of military success.

Mithradates VI used Greek mythology in his struggle against Rome

Mithradates VI was one of the most prominent rulers to challenge Roman expansion in the eastern Mediterranean.

His kingdom, Pontus, was centred on the southern Black Sea coast and developed into a major regional power during his reign.

He fought three major wars against Rome, known as the Mithridatic Wars, between 88 and 63 BC.

Ful argues that the use of Medusa imagery helped support Mithradates’ portrayal of himself as a liberator resisting Roman domination.

In Greek mythology, Medusa was one of three Gorgon sisters and the only mortal among them. Her gaze was believed to turn anyone who looked directly at her into stone.

Perseus eventually defeated her with divine assistance, using a reflective shield to avoid her deadly gaze before cutting off her head.

He subsequently used Medusa’s severed head as a weapon against his enemies.

The story offered a powerful visual reference for a ruler seeking to communicate strength, resistance and victory through the imagery appearing on everyday currency.

Medusa’s image spread beyond coins

The research also examines how Medusa’s depiction continued to appear across the region during the Roman period, long after the reign of Mithradates VI.

Archaeological finds include building decorations, burial monuments, terracotta plaques and bronze fittings.

Among the objects examined was a terracotta plaque discovered in 2017 at a Roman bath in Sebastopolis. It depicts Medusa with wavy hair and small wings near her forehead.

A stone grave marker discovered near Niksar in 1982, dating to the third or fourth century AD, also features Medusa’s head above an inscription.

A fragment of a marble coffin examined in the study carries a further depiction.

Researchers suggest that Medusa’s image served a protective purpose on burial monuments, where it was believed to ward off evil spirits and deter grave robbers.

Her association with death and the supernatural also connected the figure to ancient beliefs surrounding the afterlife.

From military symbolism to everyday decoration

Medusa imagery also appeared on small bronze discs used throughout the Roman world.

These objects were incorporated into military equipment, horse harnesses and furniture, demonstrating how the Gorgon became a recurring decorative and protective symbol.

However, the precise function of some of the bronze examples identified in the Tokat region remains uncertain.

The research traces a broader transformation in the use of Medusa’s image, from a symbol associated with political authority and military intimidation under Mithradates VI to a protective motif appearing across architecture, burial sites and everyday objects.

More than two millennia after the Pontic coins were minted, the findings highlight how ancient Greek mythology could serve not only religious and artistic purposes but also as a means of communicating political ambition and military power.

Image credit: Şengül Dilek Ful / Channel 8 (where applicable).

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