Coins from Alexander the Great found in Syria
DAMASCUS. March 8. KAZINFORM. More than 250 silver coins dating back to the time of Alexander the Great were unearthed in northern Syria, a Syrian archaeologist said Thursday; Kazinform refers to China Daily.
The coins date from the Hellenic period, which ranges from 4th to the 1st centuries B.C. after Macedonian warrior-king Alexander the Great spread Greek culture into Middle East and beyond with his conquests.
One side of the tetra drachma coins depicts Alexander the Great, while the other side shows the Greek god Zeus sitting on a throne with an eagle perched on his extended arm.
Some of the coins bear the inscription King Alexander in Greek, while others say Alexander or carry the name of King Philip, most likely referring to his father.
After Alexander the Great's conquests, many of the successor kingdoms in the Middle East adopted drachmas as their currency; Kazinform cites China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version.