Aesop's Fables Frog Medallion
Aesop’s classic fable "The Frogs and the Well" tells of two Frogs who lived happily in a small, safe well. One day, a traveling Frog told them about the huge rivers and ponds beyond. Curious and eager for adventure, one Frog decided to leave and explore—but he was eaten by a snake along the way. The other Frog stayed behind, safe in his familiar home. This clever tale reminds us that sometimes it’s better to be cautious and appreciate what you have rather than risking everything for something unknown. Our medallion captures the story’s charm and wisdom, as well as its message: The back features the Greek word ΦΡΟΝΗΣΙΣ, or "prudence," which conveys the importance of carefulness, caution, and the wisdom of knowing your limits, which is the essence of the moral of Aesop's tale.
Our medallion is based on an ancient coin from Luceria (today the city of Lucera) in northern Apulia, Italy. Once a vital border town between Samnium and Apulia, Luceria evolved from a Samnite fortress into a Roman colony. It played an important role during the Samnite and Punic Wars and flourished under Augustus as an important city within the Roman Empire.
Ancient cities often featured symbolic animals on their coins. Athens proudly sported the wise owl of Athena, for example. Luceria used the frog as a city symbol or emblem, and thus the frog appeared on its coinage. The exact reason for choosing the frog as the city’s symbol however is not known, though it could have to do with the city's location near marshes or a specific local myth: Frogs are often associated with water, fertility, and transformation.
This medallion is inspired by a bronze AES grave dating to approximately 211 BC. The obverse or front of the coin shows the radiate head of the god Apollo. Our medallion is based on the reverse or back of the coin, which shows a lovely frog surrounded by an inscription LOVCERI, the name of the city in Latin.
Our medallion may be worn as a necklace or a bracelet. It comes with a 22" brown leather cord, as well as your choice of a children's or adult's translated version of a book of Aesop's Fables.
