Aesop's Fables Mouse Medallion
Small but mighty! In Aesop’s classic fable "The Lion and the Mouse," a Lion, kingly and proud, was once startled awake when a tiny Mouse scampered across his nose. With one great paw he caught the trembling creature and could easily have made a quick snack of him, but the Mouse pleaded for mercy, promising—rather ridiculously—that one day he might repay the favor. Amused by such a bold claim, the Lion laughed at the thought of needing help from so small a beast, but in a generous mood, he released him. Not long after, the Lion was caught in a hunter’s net, and it was the same Mouse who gnawed through the ropes to set him free. The tale delights in the reversal of expectations: the great and powerful rescued by the small and seemingly insignificant. It reminds us that kindness is never wasted and that even the humblest among us can be of the greatest service. Our medallion captures the story’s charm and wisdom, as well as its important message: The back features the Greek word ΧΡΗΣΤΟΤΗΣ, or "kindness," which is the essence of the moral of Aesop's tale.
Our medallion is based on an ancient coin from Metapontion, a significant Greek colony in southern Italy (today, the city of Metaponto). Metapontion thrived on its fertile grain fields, proudly adopting the ear of barley as its symbol. Beyond its agricultural wealth, the city became a center of learning, hosting Pythagoras and his followers. Balancing prosperity with intellect, Metapontion exemplified the blend of prosperity and intellectual life that defined Magna Graecia.
This medallion is inspired by a silver didrachm dated to around 340 BC. The obverse (or front) of the coin shows the head of a female wearing a headband and jewelry. She is likely Demeter, goddess of grain and the harvest. In fact, much of Metapontion's coinage was dedicated to her. Our medallion features the coin's reverse (or back), with an ear of barley and a small mouse on one side, while the legend META appears on the other side—an abbreviation of the Greek ΜΕΤΑΠΟΝΤΙΩΝ ("of/by the Metapontines").
Greek cities often featured symbolic animals on their coins. On this coin, the mouse, often a symbol of Demeter, takes its place alongside the goddess of agriculture. In Greek tradition and in particular in agricultural societies, the presence of mice could be seen as an omen of a good harvest and a plentiful food supply. Thus, the mouse also carried connotations of good fortune and fertility, making it a positive symbol for a city known for its agricultural wealth.
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.
