Collection Inspiration: Ancient Goddesses

Posted on 10/22/2024

Through the years, many banknotes have paid homage to ancient goddesses, whose characteristics have often become shorthand to represent different areas of society.

During October 8-12 each year, the unofficial Myths and Legends Day celebrates some of the greatest stories of mythology and folklore ever told. Cultures from around the world have ancient tales passed down generation to generation, including Greek, Norse and Roman mythology.

These ancient stories and the heroes, gods, goddesses and mythical creatures that are within them have captured the attention of listeners, readers and viewers for centuries. Originally, these stories were passed on through ancient storytelling by word of mouth. Eventually these tales were written down and immortalized. As the years passed, many of these stories became part of pop culture within modern society, with their subjects frequently used in all forms of storytelling, especially in movies and TV shows.

Myths and legends are much more than just folklore; they give insight into the past and help explain different long-gone cultures. They play an important role in every civilization, often including characters that have become shorthand to represent individual attributes or areas of society. Here are 10 examples of banknotes that feature ancient goddesses.

Ten Banknotes Featuring Ancient Goddesses

Armenia

By the 5th century BC, Anahit was a principal deity in ancient Armenia as the goddess of fertility, healing, wisdom and water. As the most beloved Armenian goddess, Anahit was honored with temples and statues erected in her name. In the 1990s, the country celebrated Anahit's importance by featuring a prominent bust of the goddess on the Armenia, Republic Bank 1995 5,000 Dram note.



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Cyprus

The island country of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean Sea is an integral part of Greek mythology. There are many places and sites that connect Cyprus to these ancient tales, such as Aphrodite’s Rock. This was believed to be the birthplace of the Greek goddess of love and beauty, and it remains a popular tourist location. The country's ties to Greek mythology were once again clearly evident when they chose to highlight a statue of Aphrodite on the Cyprus, Central Bank 1993 20 Pound note.



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Egypt

Europe isn't the only area of the globe steeped in mythology. Egypt has one of the richest histories of mythology in the world, appearing often in ancient Egyptian writings, art and temple adornments. One of the most important and recognizable gods in Egypt is the goddess Iris, who became the most widely worshipped Egyptian deity along with Osiris. Iris's importance to Egypt was celebrated once more when imagery of her from an ancient temple was featured on the Egypt, Central Bank 1976-78 20 Pound note.



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Greece

When someone thinks of mythology, it is often Greek mythology that first comes to mind. The classic ancient folklore spoke of a vast collection of legends that helped form the ancient world into what it once, with its impact still felt today. Representations of Greek gods and goddesses can be found throughout Greek culture to this day, with Athena, the goddess of war, being a prominent figure. In fact, a marbled bust of Athena was featured on the Greece, Bank of Greece 1978 100 Drachmai note.



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Hong Kong

There have been multiple interpretations in different countries of Ceres, one of several Roman goddesses of agriculture and fertility. Known for her connection to harvests and edible grains, the goddess was selected for use on an early 1900s banknote in Hong Kong, then a British colony. The Hong Kong, Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corp. 1927 10 Dollars note shows a depiction of Ceres at the top left holding a bundle of grain, a reassuring theme given the importance of farming to civilization.



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Ireland

Celtic mythology was primarily an oral tradition that was heavily influenced by the land, sea and different seasons in the region. One of the most well-known Celtic sagas is called the Ulster Cycle, and it includes the cunning Medb, Queen of Connacht. According to the legend, she ruled western Ireland and eventually much of the island. The country paid tribute to Medb in modern times on the Ireland - Republic, Central Bank 1982-87 Pound note.



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Madagascar

Once again proving their endurance, Roman myths found their way to banknotes off the African coast on the island nation of Madagascar. Juno is the Roman goddess of marriage and birth, and is also considered the queen of the gods, similar to Hera in Greek mythology. A depiction of the bust of Juno is featured on the Madagascar, Banque de Madagascar ND (1937) 5 Francs note, issued when it was a French colony.



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Mexico

The Aztecs built a thriving civilization from the 14th to 16th centuries in Mexico, including a complex society with its own myths and legends. Coyolxauhqui, the Aztec goddess of the moon, is an integral figure in the ancient mythology of the Aztecs. In 1978, workers accidentally discovered and then unearthed a huge stone carving of the goddess, which appropriately became known as the Coyolxauhqui stone. Mexico paid tribute to the goddess with a depiction of the Coyolxauhqui stone found on the 10 Nuevos Pesos note from 1992.



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Spain

Phrygia was a kingdom located in what is now Turkey. This ancient kingdom lasted from 1200 to 675 BC, and among its myths and legends is Phrygia's only goddess, Cybele. One of the most iconic sculptures in Madrid, Spain is called the Fountain of Cybele, which lies in the center of the Plaza de Cibeles. Spain not only honored the goddess of earth and fertility with the famous fountain in 1780, but it also added an image of the sculpture to the Spain, Ministry of Finance 1937 1 Peseta note.



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Syria

Water goddesses were a common depiction among the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, and area along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in the Middle East. The goddesses were most often shown holding a vase, representing the element of water. Highlighting their importance in the region even in modern times, an example of a water goddess statue is prominently featured on the Syria, Central Bank 1977 50 Pound note.



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If you're interested in more inspiring banknotes, check out our other Collection Inspiration columns for more collecting ideas, including ones on ships, vintage planes and modern planes. Also, be sure to follow PMG on Facebook, on Instagram and on Twitter for other articles and interesting notes posted daily.

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