This exquisite Arethusa cuff bracelet showcases a bronze Hemilitron, minted around 400 BCE during the flourishing era of ancient Syracuse. Graded as very fine (VF), the coin displays a distinct green patina and subtle signs of wear, testifying to its historic journey and enhancing its unique character.
The coin features a profile of Arethusa, the chaste nymph, adorned with a pendant earring and necklace. Her hair is elegantly bound in an ampyx and sphendone, with a laurel branch positioned behind her. On the reverse, a dolphin joyously swims over a cockle shell. In Greek mythology, dolphins symbolised assistance and good fortune, believed to save drowning sailors and represent selfless love. The inscription ΣΥΡΑ (Syra) anchors the coin’s cultural identity.
Syracuse, the most powerful city-state of Magna Graecia, centred around the island of Ortygia, a natural fortress off the coast. According to legend, Arethusa fled from a river god and was transformed by Artemis into a spring, reemerging on Ortygia as the Fountain of Arethusa, a vital water source for the city.
Opposite this ancient artefact, completing the bracelet, is a section paved with black diamonds, adding contemporary contrast and sparkle. Set in 18k rose gold, this flexible cuff bracelet ensures effortless wearability and safety, merging the beauty of ancient art with modern craftsmanship and design.
